KARACHI: In an airport interview on return from abroad yesterday [Oct 27] President Yahya Khan said it was gratifying that President Nixon had accepted his proposal that the US help implement the scheme through the auspices of the World Bank.

President Yahya said he was “very sorry” to learn of the latest cyclonic havoc in East Pakistan. “This,” he added, “is one of the most unfortunate incidents that [has happened] with the nation.” However, he stressed, the basic thing is that if the flood control scheme was taken in hand we will go more than halfway in our efforts to control floods in East Pakistan. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by our correspondent in Dacca,] The death toll in Friday’s [Oct 23] cyclone in East Pakistan is now nearly 200. [A clearer] picture of the loss in life and property is emerging following the restoration of means of communication with outlying areas.

The casualty figures are expected to rise further as more information becomes available from hitherto inaccessible areas. The missing persons are feared either drowned or crushed under uprooted trees as they failed to return home after four days. The cyclone which rendered 2,50,000 people homeless in Satchira also badly damaged the forestry in Sunderbans.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2020