We entered Sheikh Abdullah’s house in Para, north of the island. The corrugated iron roof of their house was blown off, while the furniture was in a dilapidated condition. Abdullah was busy repairing the roof. He said that he could not take anything with him as he reached the shelter with his family at around 11:00 am on Sunday when the wind speed picked up. Everything was damaged as the corrugated iron roof was blown off.
Leaving Sheikh Abdullah’s house, we entered another house near the sea. Many rooms of the house were burnt to ashes. Shafika, who lives in the house, was trying to do some repairs in the house to pass the night. She said that the wind speed increased so suddenly that she could not go to the shelter. She took shelter in her neighbor’s building along with her three children. From there he saw that the cyclone had blown away the corrugated iron roof of his house. What could she do but watch, she said.
Shafika stayed the night in a nearby hut, but she did not know where Monday night would pass.
Mujibur Rahman, president of the St. Martin’s Union Council, said there are about 1,900 households on the island. About 700 houses have been completely destroyed and another 300 have been partially damaged. Shops, hotels and resorts were also damaged and many trees were uprooted.
The corrugated iron roofs of many restaurants and resorts were blown off but the brick walls survived. Schools, madrassas and mosques have also been damaged. Nayan Chandra Barman, headmaster of the completely destroyed Kreed Primary School, said he was not sure when school could reopen.