Eight dead as Cyclone Sitrang crossing Bangladesh coastline

At least eight people died in different incidents that happened due to gusty wind following the cyclonic storm, Sitrang, in parts of the country on Monday.

Of them, two are elderly women, who died in Barguna and Bhola.

By Monday evening, the fire service removed 30 trees that fell and got uprooted during torrential rain and strong wind across the country, including 13 places in Dhaka city.

In Cumilla, a man Md Nizam Uddin, his wife Sathi Akter and their daughter Liza Akter died after a tree uprooted by the storm fell on their house in the Nangalkot upazila.

Heshakhal Union Parishad Chairman Md Ikbal confirmed the deaths that took place around 11pm.

In Barguna, the woman said to be in her 90s could not be identified immediately. 

She died after a tree fell on her house in Sonakhali area. 

In Bhola, a man and a woman died after trees fell on them during the storm in Doulatkhan and Char Fasson upazilas of Bhola on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Monir, 30, of Hazariganj area of Char Fasson upazila and Bibi Khadiza, 80, wife of Khadem Ali of Bhola's municipality area no. 5.

Khadiza died on the spot around 7pm during the storm caused by the approaching Cyclone Sitrang, said Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Doulatkhan Police Station.

Monir was riding on his motorcycle and died around 8:30pm after a tree fell on him amid the stormy weather caused by Cyclone Sitrang, added the OC.

In the evening, a rickshaw-puller was crushed to death in Dhaka's Hazaribagh area after a wall collapsed due to gusty wind owing to Cyclone Sitrang.

Two others, the passenger of the rickshaw and a motorcyclist, were injured in the incident.

Earlier in the day, a woman died after she fell under a large tree branch blown off by the gusty winds in Narail's Lohagara upazila.

The deceased was identified as Marjina Begum, 37, a resident the upazila's Rajopur area.

The storm

The cyclonic 'Sitrang' hit Bangladesh coastline around 9pm tonight as it started crossing the coast between southwestern Barishal and southeastern Chattogram with a devastating wind speed up to 90 km per hour.

"The cyclonic storm "Sitrang" over northeast bay and adjoining northwest bay moved north-northeastwards very fast and started crossing Barishal-Chattogram coast near Bhola at 9pm today," Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) official Dr Muhammad Abul Kalam Mollik told BSS.

He said it may complete crossing the coast during next 03-04 hours by 1am to 2am on Tuesday.

BMD in its latest bulletin said maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 kph rising to 88 kph in gusts or squalls.

The maritime ports of Mongla, Payra and Chattogram have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No. 7.

The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Nakhali and Feni and their offshore islands will remain under danger signal no. seven (r) seven and are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by squally wind speed up to 88 kph with the approach and passage of the storm.

The maritime port of Cox's Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No. 6.

The coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and its offshore islands and chars will Remain under danger signal No. 6 and are likely to experience heavy or very heavy rain accompanied by squally wind speed up to 75 kph with the approach and passage of the storm.

Other districts are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by squally wind speed up to 50-60 kph with the approach and passage of the storm.

The riverports of the districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Faridpur, Dhaka, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Cox's bazar have been advised to keep hoisted riverine danger signal No. 3.

Under the influence of the cyclone, new moon phase and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 05-08 feet 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.

Preparedness

Over 2.19 lakh people from 15 coastal districts of the country were evacuated until 5 pm on Monday while more were expected to take makeshift refuge in safe shelters overnight, officials said.

“At least 219,990 people have been taken to cyclone centers in 15 coastal districts by 5pm today,” a Disaster Management and Relief Ministry spokesman said. 

A joint secretary of the ministry, M Moniruzzaman, added that the evacuation process was underway to minimize human casualties as “we have kept ready 6,925 cyclone centers” expecting the last person exposed to cyclone dangers to take refuge there. 

PM’s concern

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking information from the field levels and giving requisite instructions to the authorities concerned aimed at protecting lives and properties from the severe cyclone.

Sheikh Hasina, also rresident of the ruling Awami League, is also communicating with her party's local leaders, including lawmakers, to inquire about the situation and asked them to be prepared to face any situation arising out of the cyclone, an official said.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has also opened PM's Disaster Management Coordination and Relief Monitoring Cell for 24 hours as per the directive of the Prime Minister.

All are requested to communicate with the cell through its hotline numbers---01769010986, 02-55029550 and 02-58153022. The fax number is 02-9102469.

Police, navy, air force, firemen on alert

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Monday afternoon directed the police to be vigilant in dealing with Cyclone 'Sitrang', for which Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is also prepared to tackle the post-disaster response.

A total 17 ships of two Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and two helicopters of Bangladesh Navy have completed all necessary preparations for deployment in Chotragram, Khulna and Mongla naval areas to conduct emergency rescue, relief and medical assistance activities after cyclone 'Sitrang' hits the coastal region.

The fire service opened a cell at its headquarters in Dhaka Monday evening for monitoring situation, and responding quickly in case of emergency before the tip of cyclone Sitrang lashed the coastal areas of Bangladesh at night.

3 coastal airports closed

Three airports at Bangladesh’s coastal belt in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Barishal will remain closed till 12 pm on Tuesday due to the inclement weather induced by the cyclone Sitrang.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to shut down all operation of these three airports from 3 pm on Monday, according to a CAAB press release.  

The CAAB will review its decision after observing the weather situation, said the release.

Schools shut

All the educational institutions of Khulna, Barishal and Chittagong divisions will remain closed today due to cyclone Sitrang.

The Ministry of Education has given instructions to use the educational institutions in the cyclone-affected areas as shelters, according to a press release of the education ministry.

The ministry said classes of the educational institutions which will be used as shelters will be closed until further orders.

NU cancels exams

The National University has postponed all exams that were to be held on Tuesday due to Cyclone Sitrang.

Everyone involved in the tests will be informed of a revised schedule for the postponed exams soon, the university said in a notice. The dates and times of all other exams previously announced will remain unchanged.

‘Cut 80pc ripe paddy’

The Agriculture Ministry has suggested cutting Aman rice, which is 80 percent ripe, to minimise the possible brunt of the approaching cyclonic storm Sitrang.

The Agriculture Department will keep communication with the Water Development Board regularly if saline water enters due to higher tidal surge.

Dhaka, too, suffering 

Parts of Dhaka city have already been inundated, causing serious issues to the city people, mostly those returning home from work. 

This is affecting not only the movement of people walking on foot but vehicles carrying passengers and goods. 

Power cuts

Many areas in Dhaka and Narayanganj cities plunged into darkness following a huge disruption in power supply that authorities blamed on the cyclone.

Power supply to Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur and Bagerhat districts was completely shut down as a precaution against the storm that damages power lines.

Meanwhile, 30 of the Rural Electrification Board’s 80 associations under rural networks shut power distribution. He mentioned that some utility poles were taken down by fallen trees, while the wires snapped in some areas, but no major damage was reported.

People in parts of Chittagong also suffered due to the situation.

Launch service scrapped

The BIWTA has halted all river vehicles, including launches.

River ports in coastal districts have been ordered to hoist marine danger signal 3, while other river ports are raising danger signal 2, said Md Rafiqul Islam, BIWTA director.