2,000 homes destroyed, 10,000 partially damaged in Saint Martin’s, Teknaf

Staff Reporter  :
While no fatalities were reported due to the severe cyclone Mocha, the residents of coastal areas, especially St Martin Island and Teknaf, are still grappling with the aftermath of extensive damage caused to houses and the significant loss of trees.

The cyclone had also uprooted the electric poles and cut off the electric wires in different parts of Teknaf and the residents in the area was out of the electricity coverage for more than 20 hours before the connection was restored.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief in a press briefing on the post cyclone situation in his ministry in the capital said that the government has successfully tack led the cyclone and there were no fatalities.

“Due to the cyclone, the towns of Teknaf and Saint Martin’s Island have suffered extensive damage. Around 2,000 houses being completely destroyed. Over 10,000 houses have been partially damaged. Several people have been injured by falling trees, and they have received medical treatment at local hospitals,” he said.

“We don’t have any other loss except the damage of houses. This the first time Bangladesh has tackled a cyclone without any news of death. We are terming it a great success because loss of life is the big matter. We have successfully tackled the cyclone following the directives of the prime minister,” he mentioned.

The state minister further said that local people who stayed in the shelters had returned to their homes after the cyclone.
“As long as there was cautionary signal no 10, we did not allow anyone to leave. People wanted to go, but the local administration did not permit them,” he said.

Meanwhile, due to the impact of severe cyclone Mocha, the entire population of Teknaf has been disconnected from supply of electricity.
Despite over 20 hours since the passage of cyclone Mocha, power supply had not been restored in Teknaf, said a number of residents in the area. However, Cox’s Bazar Palli Bidyut Samity expected to resume electricity by 8-9 pm on Monday.

The locals said that they were out of the coverage of electricity since the Sunday morning of the cyclone Mocha’s arrival. The electric wires were severed and many poles were damaged caused by the severe cyclone.

Abu Taher, a shopkeeper in Teknaf town, told the media: “On Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, the power went out and has not returned yet. Even though our power lines are intact, they have been damaged in many places, causing disruptions. That’s why there is no electricity.”
Shahjahan, a worker at Naf Petrol Service said, “We have been using a generator to operate the pumps. We don’t know when the power will come back.”

Nurul Alam, the Chairman of Teknaf Upazila, said that there has been no electricity supply in his unions for over 20 hours.
“The power lines in five of my unions have been damaged. Repair work is underway. If everything goes well, electricity might be restored,” he said.

Abul Bashar Azad, the Deputy Manager of the Teknaf Zone Office of Palli Bidyut Samity, told the media that the electricity situation in the Teknaf area has not yet returned to normal.

“It will take a lot more time. We had started the electricity in the municipality. But within ten minutes, there was a circuit break. We hope to arrange the electricity supply for the Teknaf area by 9 o’clock tonight. My entire team, including the Superintendent of Chittagong and the General Managers of Cox’s Bazar, is working in the field,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur and Chattogram divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Day and night temperature may rise by 1-2 degrees Celsius over the country.