DACCA: A severe cyclonic storm gaining a maximum speed of 105 miles per hour today struck Dacca, Khulna, Faridpur and four other districts of East Pakistan causing widespread damage. The storm, which was accompanied by heavy showers, whipped up high waves in the coastal belts of Khulna, Barisal and Patuakhali districts and inundated some areas, according to sketchy reports received here late this evening [Oct 23]. Noakhali district was also hit. ...

In Dacca and Khulna many kutcha houses were razed to the ground, trees were uprooted and electric poles twisted. Dacca city was plunged into darkness due to power failure in the evening and remained so till the time of writing this report at 10 p.m. In the capital life became completely paralysed as the cyclonic storm lashed it in the evening.

Dacca was caught completely unawares by the cyclone as the weather prophets of the Meteorological Office had not forecast that it would pass through Dacca. But in the afternoon the radar and satellite pictures at the Dacca observatory indicated that it was moving from Madaripur of Faridpur district towards Dacca district. The district administration immediately issued warning to the citizens asking them to take precautionary measures.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2020