Barisal Correspondent :Barisal Port authorities restricted plying ML (motor launch) type launches and other small water transports up to 65 feet in length in 22 routes of Barisal region until further order due to rough weather.The city-sky became cloudy all over the day with light to mid-range raining taking intervals with 10-15 Km per hour wind speed on Saturday.Barisal Met office recorded 55.3 millimeter rain fall in last 12 hour and 77.7 millimeter in 24 hours till 12:00 noon on Saturday.This condition may continue till new moon on next Tuesday, weather officials opined.The step was taken after weather department asked river-port authorities to hoist cautionary weather signal no. 2 from Saturday morning following the low created over North Bay and adjoining areas after deep convection taking place over the coastal region under its influence, said Abul Bashar Mazumdar, deputy director, river safety and traffic management of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity Barisal office.Md. Shahidullah, deputy director BIWTA and Barisal River Port officer said river port authority stopped plying small water transports from this port due to adverse weather and rough river condition in the region since Saturday morning.Triple deck Barisal-Dhaka bound launches also asked to ply cautiously, Barisal port officer added.Shohidul Alam, Deputy Commissioner, Barisal, said upazila nirbahi officers and disaster, relief management department informed that low lying areas on river banks, water bodies engulfed by flash flood and they monitoring the situation.Coastal areas hoisted weather signal no.3 at Kalapara. Squally weather may affect the maritime ports and coastal areas with roughness on water ways and high tidal bore than usual time due to low and said Prodip Kumar, officer of Kalapara weather radar station.The low lying areas of the coastal and offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 6 to 8 feet, under influence of low, Prodip Kumar cautioned.All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast for taking safe shelters and proceed with caution till further notice, the port and weather officials informed.Officials of Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) of Barisal Red Crescent unit, said regular wireless contact with their units on different shore, off shore, coastal islands and shoals, are maintaining and they informed that conditions of river estuaries and sea were very rough with high waves and strong tides and gusty winds since morning.
