At least 21 dead as deadly tornado strikes Bangladesh

At least 21 people have been killed and 200 hundred injured after a powerful tornado tore through eastern Bangladesh on Friday, disaster officials say.

The twister smashed through about 20 villages in Brahmanbaria district, south-east of the capital, Dhaka, wrecking several hundred houses, uprooting trees, and cutting off power supplies.

Debris on roads and railway lines has impeded rescue operations.

Anbarasan Ethirajan reports from Dhaka.