Staff Reporter :
All the government agencies and costal districts are on high alert on the likely impact of Cyclone Fani, which already turns “very severe” and possibly hit Bangladesh on Friday.
Officials confirmed full preparedness to deal with any emerging situation arising out of the cyclonic storm.
They said people of costal districts are in the process of being evacuated.
“The severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is likely to hit Bangladesh on Friday evening as it is approaching towards the country,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman on Thursday.
He said the government has taken necessary preparations to face the situation if the cyclone hit the Bangladesh coastal areas.
The storm’s current path suggests it will hit West Bengal after crossing Odisha, but its effects will “catastrophically” spread up to Cox’s Bazar via Khulna, Mongla, Satkhira and Chattogram, according to him.
Rahman also said that the government opened control rooms in 19 coastal districts and 4071 shelter centers have been kept prepared.
Two thousand packets of dry food, 2000 tonnes of rice and cash amounting to Tk 5 lakh have been sent to the districts, he said.
The Met Office says, Khulna and its adjoining southwestern coastal areas will feel the peripheral effects of ‘Fani’ by Friday morning, advising Mongla and Payra ports to display danger signal number seven.
The very severe cyclonic storm was 915km southwest of Mongla port and 925km Southwest of Payra port at 9am on Thursday.
Officials of the Met office said that Fani, a category three hurricane, might arrive with wind speed from 150-180km per hour while crossing Bangladesh.
The cyclone is likely to intensify further and move in a north-northeasterly direction, cross Odisha coast in India and then move towards West Bengal and gradually towards Khulna region of Bangladesh.
The coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven, the weather office said.
The maritime ports in Chattogram have been asked to hoist danger signal number six. This danger signal is also effective for the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands.
The Chattogram Port Authority yesterday halted cargo handling at the main port’s outer anchorage due to bad weather caused by cyclonic storm Fani, reports our Chattogram correspondent.
“The vessels, anchored at the inner berths are being taken to the safer places especially in outer anchorage with a view to protecting the berths from any unwanted destructions likely to be caused by the cyclone”, CPA Secretary Omar Farook told New Nation.
Vessels have been asked to suspend their voyage till next directives, he added.
Meanwhile, the district administration at an emergency meeting took up brisk preparations comprising all public utility departments and concerned agencies to cope with the pre and post disaster situation of the cyclonic storm Fani.
The meeting, chaired by Chattogram’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Ilias Hossain, decided to standby medical teams, with adequate relief materials including drinking water and dry foods in all cyclone shelters during the pre and post cyclone situations.
Ilias Hossain said a total of 2758 cyclone centres including 2269 primary schools have been opened in all coastal upazilas of the district. Around eight lakh people of the coastal upazilas including Sandwip, Banskhali, Anowara, Sitakunda and Mirsari are expected to take shelter in 2758 cyclone centers, Ilias Hossain said.
Holidays of all officials, employees, doctors and nurses have been cancelled and were kept ready standby as part of the Fani preparedness, said Ilias Hossain, also chairman of the district’s disaster management committee.
Different control rooms from CCC, CPA District administrations and Civil surgeons have been opened to monitor the round the clock situations of the pre -post and during the cyclone periods. A total of 16,695 volunteers including 10100 from Red Crescent society have already deputed to cope any kinds of disastrous situation, DC Ilias Hossain said.
“Announcement through loud speakers for raising mass awareness about the cyclone began this morning and it will continue until further notice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the maritime ports of Cox’s Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number four.
The Cox’s Bazar district administration has also prepared 538 cyclone shelters and 6,500 volunteers to tackle any kind of disaster, caused by Fani.
Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar district Mohammad Ashraful Ashraf said that the Foni could strike on Friday. So they are getting ready to face it.
He said about 4.99 lakh people would be evacuated to the 538 shelters in the district.
The district administration has stored adequate quantity of dry food to be provided to the victims of the disaster.
The category-3 hurricane ‘Fani’ was centred about 1,065 km southwest of Chattogram port and 1,025km Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port in the morning.
It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-northeasterly direction, the Met Office said. Fani will reach Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by Friday evening.
Flooding has been forecast for low-lying areas of coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands.
The Met Office said these areas are likely to be inundated by 4-5 feet high storm surge under the influence of ‘Fani’ and the new moon phase.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the storm center is about 160kph, rising to 180kph in gusts or squalls.
All the fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter immediately. They have been asked to remain in shelters until further notice.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Thursday suspended all the types of water transport services across the country.
Meanwhile, authorities have taken necessary measures to protect 11 kilometers of risky embankment under Water Development Board (WDB) in the district.
Volunteers are alerting people through loudspeakers in the coastal Upazilas of Shyamnagar, Ashashuni and Kaliganj, while red flags have been raised in each union. Emergency aid, dry food, drinkable water, children food and other safety materials have been stored to deal with any exigency, officials said.
Members of Fire Service, Coast Guard, BGB, Ansar VDP, Red Crescent, Scout Team and volunteers have been put on alert.
