The very severe cyclonic storm, ‘Bulbul’, over the northwest bay and adjoining areas has weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and started crossing the West Bengal-Khulna coast near the Sundarbans around 9pm on Saturday.
A special bulletin of the Met office said the cyclone moved northwestwards at a speed of about 8 kph and it is lying over the northwest bay and adjoining coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal and southwestern part of Bangladesh.
It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further, weaken gradually and may complete crossing the West Bengal-Khulna coast by Saturday midnight.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the severe centre is about 100 kph rising to 120 kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain very high near the severe cyclone centre.
“The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal No 10,” the bulletin said.
“The coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal No 10,” the Met Office said in a special bulletin.
The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by a storm surge of 5-7 feet highest above the normal astronomical tide.
The maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal No 9.
The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal No 9.
The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal No 4.
Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati and Bagerhat are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-100 with heavy to very heavy rainfall during the passage of the storm.
Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm and the moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Meanwhile, the coastal districts are experiencing rain under the impact of Bulbul, report our correspondents.
Fifteen houses were damaged in Lalmohan and Charfasson upazilas of Bhola on Saturday night under the impact of the cyclone, leaving 10 people injured.
Locals said strong winds started blow around 9pm. Eight houses collapsed in Lalmohan while seven more in Charfasson.
Ten people were injured as house collapses, they said.
Around 764,000 people have been evacuated from seven coastal districts to shelter centres. The districts are Baterhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Barishal, Pirojpur, Barguna and Bhola.
The government has also formed 1,577 medical teams and opened 4,516 shelters in the coastal districts.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the government has taken all-out preparations to tackle the approaching severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’.
Earlier on Friday night, all the launch services were suspended amid the impending severe cyclone.
According to the Bangladesh Navy, kept five ships have been ready at Khulna BNS Titumir for emergency relief and rescue operations in Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakati and Barguna. –UNB, Dhaka.
