15 Oct 2018 | 12:34 AM UTC
India/Bangladesh: Death toll from Cyclone Titli rises to 28 as of October 14 /update 5
Rainfall, flooding, and landslides from Cyclone Titli leave at least 24 dead in Odisha state (India) and four others dead in Chittagong (Bangladesh) as of October 14; lingering flooding and transportation disruptions expected over the coming days
Event
Rainfall and consequent flooding and landslides from Cyclone Titli have left at least 28 people dead in Odisha state (India) and Chittagong (Bangladesh) as of Sunday, October 14. In Odisha state, at least 15 people have been left dead following a landslide in Gajapati district on Friday, October 12; heavy rainfall and flooding also left three others dead in Gajapati, with another four killed in Ganjam district, as well as two others in Kandhamal district. Despite the rising death toll, floodwaters in the affected districts of Odisha state have begun to recede, facilitating emergency rescue and relief operations. Though sunny weather is forecast in the abovementioned areas in the coming days and recovery efforts are accelerating, lingering flooding, transportation disruptions, and power outages are to be expected in the near-term. The death toll may rise as recovery efforts continue.
In Bangladesh, at least four people were killed in two landslides in Chittagong city on Sunday, October 14, after heavy rainfall influenced by Cyclone Titli soaked the area. Authorities in Chittagong district have advised individuals in landslide-prone areas to evacuate. Further forecast rainfall in Chittagong on Monday, October 15, may exacerbate the risk of additional landslides occurring in the area.
Context
An estimated 6 million people have been affected by the cyclone and its effects in Odisha state since it made landfall near Palasa (Andhra Pradesh state) on Thursday, October 11. The districts in Odisha most severely affected by the storm are Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Puri, Kandhamal, and Kendrapara.
Tropical cyclones are common in the Bay of Bengal from May through December.
Advice
Individuals in the affected areas should monitor local weather reports, confirm travel plans, avoid low-lying areas, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities. Remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater and chemical products; all items having come into contact with floodwater should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.
