Dhaka, May 26 : ''Cyclone Aila'' has claimed 18 lives in south-western Bangladesh. Over 500 others are reported to be missing.

Four people in Bhola, three each in Khulna, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Laxmipur, one in Barguna and a child in Barisal died, while a few hundred thousand people were marooned in the affected areas.

Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many villages in Khulna, Satkhira, Patuakhali and Barisal are submerged.

A large number of domesticated animals and standing crop were lost in the surge.

Bangladesh''s Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak officially confirmed five deaths in Bhola and Patuakhali.

There was no river communications between the capital and all southern districts. Power supply to those districts have also been snapped.

Evacuation work has been started by the local administration. A large number of people have taken shelter at different cyclone centres, schools and madrasas.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed her ministers to take necessary steps to help the cyclone-affected people. She also ordered the armed forces to join in the relief operations.

In Satkhira district, over 100 people were reported missing.

Flood-protection dykes on the Kabodak, Khalpetua, Madar, Chulkuri and Kalia were breached and swamped a number of villages. Many villages near the Sundarbans are under water as well.

The NGO Red Crescent has gone in with water purifying tablets and other relief materials. The district collector has allocated 10 tons of rice and Taka 1 lakh as immediate relief.

The cyclone snapped road and river communications in Barisal. The storm destroyed livestock, crops and houses as well.

Huge areas of Patuakhali and Barguna went under eight to 10 feet of seawater.

Three people died in the storm in Patuakhali alone and another one in Barguna.

Kuakata remained cut off from the rest of the country as three ferry terminals on Kalapara-Kuakata Highway got submerged.

Meanwhile, the ongoing higher secondary school and equivalent examinations in Aila affected areas have been postponed. (ANI)