More than a quarter million people affected by Cyclone Mora, says minister

Officials in Chittagong reported winds gusting up to 135 kph (85 mph), and said low-lying coastal areas were flooded by a storm surge with waves 2 metres (7 feet) high.

The Cyclonic Storm Mora made a landfall over the Bangladesh coast near Chittagong on early Tuesday morning.

The harsh cyclonic tornado MORA over the northeast and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal have moved further north-northeastward during past six hrs with a speed of 28 Kmph, and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh government had issued a warning on Monday to those living in coastal areas to evacuate as the cyclone was expected to intensify.

In Chittagong district, about 150,000 people were evacuated.

Community leaders said damage to the camps was extensive and there had been no attempt to evacuate the Rohingya. Nearly all the 10,000 thatched huts in the Balukhali and Kutupalong camps were destroyed, Alam said.

Flights in the area were cancelled.

Majority were killed by falling trees in the districts of Cox's Bazar and Rangamati, officials told the BBC.

"Bad weather under the cyclone's influence will persist for at least 12 hours", Shamsuddin Ahmed, director for Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said in a televised brief around 11:30am.

Major cities including capital Dhaka are experiencing drizzle and gusty wind as an impact of the advancing cyclone.

Besides, three villages - Baroaulia, Dholghat, Purba Gahira - in Anawara upazila and three other villages - Purba Barguna, Pashim Barguna and Gandamara - in Bashkhali upazila were inundated after the cyclone make landfall, our correspondents report. More than 100 people remain missing.

The people trapped, had been blown away from shore and coastal dwelling units due to Cyclone Mora. It's supposed to weaken and become a tropical storm as it moves towards India, where officials have already warned of heavy rains in five northern states.

Cyclone Mora started to form after recent monsoon rains which led to landslides and flooding in nearby Sri Lanka.