Under the influence of the cyclonic storm “Mora” atmost all low-lying areas have been inundated in Cox’s Bazar as waters have already breached five kilometers embankment of Bangladesh Water Development Board.
The low-lying areas in Cox’s Bazar have gone under water with an unusually high tide pounding the shore as the cyclone Mora is approaching and likely to hit the country’s coastal districts today (Tuesday) morning, according to special weather bulletin issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Monday evening.
People of the coastal districts are experiencing heavy down pour since Monday noon.
In its special bulletin, the weather office advised the maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar to keep hoisted danger signal number 10 while Mongla and Payra ports signal number eight.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) issued cautionary signal No. 2 for all river ports across the country. It also suspended all river transports still further notice.
BIWTA Joint Director Joynal Abedin said that cautionary signal No. 2 means vessel with lengths over 65 feet can operate. “But adverse weather conditions have prompted us to suspend all river transports,” he added.
According to the special weather bulletin, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide. The cyclonic storm ‘Mora’ over the North Bay and adjoining East Central Bay moved slightly northwards further over the same area, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and was centred at 6:00pm on Monday about 385 kms south of Chittagong port, 305 kms south of Cox’s Bazar port, 450 kms south-southeast of Mongla Port and 370 kms south-southeast of Payra Port.
It is likely to intensify further, move in a northerly direction and may cross Chittagong – Cox’s Bazar coast by this morning, said the special weather bulletin.
Under the peripheral influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Mora’ gusty/squally wind with rain/thunder showers is likely to continue over North Bay and the coastal districts and maritime ports of Bangladesh.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 62 kms of the cyclone centre is about 89 kph rising to 117 kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain high near the system.
Coastal districts of chittagong, cox’s bazar, noakhali, laxmipur, feni, chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number ten.
Coastal districts of bhola, borguna, patuakhali, barisal, pirozpur, jhalokathi, bagherhat, khulna, satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number eight.
Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm ‘mora’ the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.
Meanwhile, the government has undertaken all out preparatory measures to provide support to cyclone affected people at coastal areas.
“We have already allocated Tk 5 lakh and 100 metric tonnes of rice for each coastal district, where probable cyclone might hit,” Additional Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry M Golam Mostafa said yesterday after emerging from a meeting in the conference room.
He said the deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers concerned would have to prepare shelter centers, drinking water, safe places for domestic animals, medical teams, due to the probable cyclone hit the coastal areas.
Besides, Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) volunteers and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) units will remain ready in the areas, Mostafa said.
He added that apart from coastal zone, deputy commissioners at Rangamati, Bardarban and Khagrachhari would take cautionary measures amid landsides and heavy rain.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has already stopped loading and unloading of goods from the vessels anchored both port jetties and its outer anchorage from 10:00am yesterday in the backdrop of the cyclonic storm.
The vessels, anchored at the jetties are being taken to the safer places, especially in outer anchorage, with a view to protecting the jetties from any impending destruction likely to be caused by the cyclone, CPA Secretary Omar Farook said.
Meanwhile, Chittagong district administration in an emergency meeting has taken up brisk preparations comprising all public utility departments and concerned agencies to cope with any eventuality of the cyclonic storm Mora.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy commissioner Mohammad Zillur Rahman, decided to standby medical teams, with adequate relief materials including drinking water and dry foods in all shelter centres during pre and post cyclone situation .
Cyclone shelter centres have been opened in all coastal upazilas of the district.
Leaves of all officials, employees, doctors and nurses have been cancelled and kept standby to face any eventuality of the Mora, said Zillur, also chairman of the district’s disaster management committee.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Ali Hossain held a meeting with the local disaster management committee asking educational institutions to shut temporarily.
Some 538 shelters were ready to accommodate more than 500,000 people and provide dry food, he said. A total of 88 medical units, 6,010 volunteers and 15,000 volunteers of the Red Crescent were on the alert.
A control room led by Executive Magistrate Saiful Islam would monitor the activities.
The Patuakhali administration held an emergency meeting earlier in the day when the district witnessed medium rainfall and drizzling intermittently.
DC Masumur Rahman said control rooms were set up and awareness campaigns were ongoing in different areas.
There were 351 cyclone shelters with storage of dry food and medicines. People in the offshore islands and lowlands have been asked to move there, he said.
Lakshmipur DC Homayra Begum issued an order to shift people to shelters, store food for consumption during and after disaster, and form a medical team and six control rooms.
Similar arrangements were in place in Chandpur for char dwellers, said DC Md Abdus Sobur Mondol.
Around 31,000 people of the coastal upazilas including Sandwip, Banskhali, Anowara, Sitakunda and Mirsari were expected to be evacuated before sunset. One hundred medical teams with 5,000 health workers, adequate number of volunteers of the Red Crescent society have been kept ready and district administration is monitoring round the clock in this regard.
CPA, district administration, Chittagong civil surgeon, Chittagong City Corporation and Red Crescent society have separately opened up control rooms to monitor the pre and post cyclonic storm Mora.
All the vehicles of Chittagong City Corporation are prepared to respond to any emergency call, CCC sources said.
Local administrations in coastal areas are evacuating people from the path of Cyclone Mora, which is expected to make landfall early today.
Mayors, deputy commissioners, NGOs, local wings of the ruling Awami League and journalists held meetings in the areas on Monday to prepare for the evacuation.
They discussed ways and means to mitigate the possible loss of lives and property.
