Staff Reporter :
Authorities have instructed residents in 10 coastal districts to evacuate to safe shelters by 8 pm on Tuesday in order to protect them from the danger posed by “severe cyclonic storm” Hamoon that formed in Bay of Bengal.
The tropical storm was expected to make landfall in Bangladesh’s coastal districts between 10pm Tuesday to 10:00am on Wednesday, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
“Nearly 15 lakh (1.5 million) people from the vulnerable districts of Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Borguna, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur would be evacuated to cyclone shelters,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman.
“We have ordered to move people in vulnerable areas in ten districts to shelters when danger signal No. 7 is issued,” he told reporters after an emergency meeting of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme implementation board at the Secretariat yesterday.
He added, “Our field administration and volunteers will take those people to shelters”.
The state minister also highlighted the speed, nature and location of the cyclone.
“After analysing the cyclone’s track, speed and character, we have surmised that it will cross the coastal area between 10 pm and 10 am on Tuesday.
That is why instructions have been given to take vulnerable people to shelters by 8 pm on Tuesday.”
With wind speeds of 100 km per hour, this cyclone has reached within 310 km of the Bangladesh coast.
Enamur said the severe cyclone ‘Hamoon’ may make landfall in Bangladesh’s coastal districts between 10pm Tuesday to 10:00am on Wednesday.
He also said that the shelters have been prepared and the field administration and volunteers are already at work.
Money has already been allocated to provide cooked food and drinking water, baby food and cow fodder at those locations. Tk 2 million and 50 metric tonnes of rice have been allotted to each district.
“Medical teams have been formed and huge quantity of emergency medicines and medical accessories have been kept ready,” he said.
The state minister said Tuesday’s official holiday for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has been cancelled due to the storm.
Ministries, directorates and field-level officers are working in the coastal region.
“Hamoon’s track is similar to last year’s Cyclone Sitrang, albeit slightly to the northwest, Enamur said, adding, “The trajectory and speed are very similar, which is why extra caution is called for.”
According to a special bulletin of BMD, the ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ over Northwest Bay and adjoining Northeast Bay moved East-Northeastward, weakened into a severe cyclonic storm over the same area and it may cross Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar coast by Tuesday night.
At 3.0 pm, it was centred about 285 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 250 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 235 kms south of Mongla port and 180 kms south of Payra port, said the Met office bulletin.
It is likely to move east-northwestwards, weaken into a cyclonic storm and may cross Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar coast by tonight (Tuesday).
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclonic storm, heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy (89mm) rainfall with gusty or squally wind is continuing over North Bay and coastal areas of Bangladesh.
The body of the system may start crossing the coast by 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, it said.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the storm centre is about 90 kph rising to 110 kph in gusts or squalls.
Sea will remain high near the severe cyclonic centre.
Maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No 7, while maritime port of, Cox’s Bazar has been advised to lower sanger signal No 6 but instead of hoist danger signal No 7 and maritime port of Payra have been advised to lower danger signal No 7 but instead hoist danger signal no 5 and maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No 5.
The coastal districts of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal No 7.
Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Barguna, Bhola, patuakhali, Barishal Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and the chars are likely to be inundated by wind-driven surge of 3-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
Under the influence of the severe cyclone, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Due to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram.
