Low-lying areas in Koyra, Dacope and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna district were inundated by tidal surge triggered by Cyclone Yaas that made a landfall in eastern India on Wednesday.

The residents of the three upazilas have been experiencing light rains or drizzles since Wednesday noon and the local administration has opened over 1,000 cyclone shelters.

Besides, volunteers, Red Crescent workers and members of law enforcement agencies are working to tackle the situation and ensure safety of the people living in coastal areas of the country. 

Read:Cyclone 'Yaas': 1 killed, low-lying areas inundated in Bhola

Amirul Azad, a senior meteorologist at Khulna regional met office, said low-lying areas are likely to be inundated by tidal surges of 3-4 feet high due to the full moon phase and cyclone Yaas.

The local met office, meanwhile, recorded 21 mm of rainfall in the past two days in the district.

Mohammad Azizul Haque Zoardar, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said 1,048 cyclone shelters have been kept ready in nine upazilas of the district.

Besides, there are 724 schools, colleges and madrashas which will be turned into shelter centres, if needed, as those have the capacity to accommodate 4 lakh people.

Besides, he said, 116 medical teams are working in the district.

The Executive Engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board-2, Rashidur Rahman, said 24 points of 155-km long embankment in Koyra upazila has been identified as a risky one.

If the tidal surges go up to 8-10 feet above the normal astronomical tide, then it will be difficult to save the embankment, he said, adding that they are on alert.

Koyra Upazila UNO Animesh Biswas said there are 118 cyclone shelters in the upazila which can accommodate 65,000-70,000 people.

ABM Khalid Hossain Siddique, the UNO of Paikgachha upazila, said 108 shelters having the capacity of accommodating 59,000 people have been prepared. Some 3,000 volunteers are ready to evacuate people, if necessary.

Read:3 injured, 50 houses destroyed in storm ahead of Yaas

Besides, 11 medical teams are ready to provide treatment, Khalid said.

Khulna Police Super Mahbub Hasan said a committee has been formed in each ward to tackle both the pre- and post-cyclone situations.