storm
3 injured, 50 houses destroyed in storm ahead of Yaas
Three persons sustained injuries while some 50 houses were damaged in a storm at Armukhi village in Sadar upazila of Jhenaidah district on Tuesday night, ahead of the landfall of cyclone Yaas.
Kabir Hossain, chairman of Naldanga Union, said a two-kilometre area of the village stretching from Kutipara to West Para was flattened during the storm that lasted for about 15-20 seconds.
"Three persons, including a woman and a child, were injured in the storm. Several trees were uprooted while all semi-pucca and thatched houses have been destroyed," he said.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas makes landfall in eastern India
Mojibor Rahman, deputy commissioner of Jhenaidah district, said the UNO of sadar upazila has been sent to the spot to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the storm.
Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Low-lying districts flooded as water level rises
Necessary steps will be taken after getting a report from the spot, he said.
Tropical Storm or Cyclone Preparedness Checklist 2021
Cyclone preparedness is now essential as several cyclones have hit over the past decade. To increase the severity of ongoing coronavirus, it is as if cyclone ‘Yaas’ is coming towards Bangladesh. It originates from the North Andaman Sea and the adjoining East-Central Bay of Bengal under the Indian Ocean. The depression formed here could continue to intensify and turn into a severe cyclone by May 24. It may then move northwest and reach the Khulna coast of Bangladesh on 26 May.
Let’s take a look at the necessary steps that need to be taken in advance to minimize the damage caused by the cyclone.
Necessary preparations to deal with cyclone.
The pre-cyclone initiatives
In the case of rural areas
1. When building a house, make sure that it is as high as possible above the ground. Lay iron or wooden pillars and frames on a strong foundation. Then cover it with a thatch. Be careful when using tin in tents as tin can fly during storms and injure people and cattle. In this case, you can use Tin with a thickness of 0.5 mm and Zehuk.
2. With the storm in mind, plant coconut, banana, bamboo, palm, firewood, and other hardy plants in the yard.
3. Keep radios on all vessels including fishing boats, launches, and trawlers. Make it a habit to listen to the weather forecast all the time while staying in the river or sea.
4. During the cyclone season, keep dry food such as parched rice, flattened rice, biscuits, etc. that can be stored at home for a few days.
5. People in which area will go to which shelter, where the cattle will be, fixed everything in advance during the cyclone. Make sure you know all the safe places near and far as possible. Don’t forget about social distance due to corona. The shelter-providing organizations have to keep in mind that people gather at a sufficient distance from each shelter.
6. Always carry some first aid kits such as bandages, Dettol, etc. with you if possible.
7. When going to a shelter, decide in advance what to take with you and what to bury in the ground. You can leave the essential commodities such as rice, lentils, matches, dried wood, water alum, sugar, regularly used medicines, books, bandages, cotton, orsaline, documents, money, etc. packed in waterproof polythene bags and buried in the ground.
8. Check the condition of your houses as soon as you get a cyclone warning. To make it stronger, bury a pole in the ground and tie different parts of the house with ropes.
9. Get in touch with CPP (Cyclone Preparedness Program) volunteers as soon as you receive the signal.
10. You must put out the fire before leaving the house.
11. Open the head of the tubewell. Then cover the open part well with polythene. This will prevent dirt from entering the tubewell.
12. Rainwater is pure and edible. So make arrangements in advance to retain rainwater after the cyclone. Keep water in a large earthen pot or drum and cover its mouth well so that no insects or dirt can enter.
Also Read: How Cyclone Yaas was named
In the case of urban areas
1. Don’t be alarmed by the news of the cyclone on online social media, TV, and radio. Listen to the instructions calmly and act accordingly.
2. Keep your power bank, charger light, torchlight fully charged. Keep candles and lighters with yourself.
3. If your home is a tin shed or if you live downstairs, wrap important papers in waterproof boxes with tape and polythene. Don’t put multiplugs on the floor.
4. Gas, electricity, water, and phone networks across the city may be shut down for security reasons. The road may be closed. So keep a sufficient amount of dry food in the collection.
5. Remove flower tubs on the railing, outside machinery of AC on the sunshade, construction equipment, and keep them in a safe place. If you have a building under construction next to your home, you need to be extra careful.
Also Read: Cyclone Yaas: Maritime ports in Bangladesh asked to hoist signal no 2
Cyclonic storm likely to hit Khulna coasts around May 26: BMD
A low pressure area is very likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining East-central Bay of Bengal which may intensify into a cyclonic storm and hit the Khulna coastal region around May 26, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a forecast Thursday.
The cyclonic storm is likely to move northwestward after forming and reach near Odhisha-West Bengal of India and Khulna coasts of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions and areas in Sitakunda, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Sreemangal. It may continue, says the weather forecast commencing 6pm today.
However, an extended outlook for five days following the probable three days of forming the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal forecasts an increase in the rain/storm activity.
Nor’wester lashes across the country; 1 killed
A fisherman was killed at Ulipur Upazila in Kurigram as a nor'wester lashed across the country on Friday night into early hours of Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Momir Uddin, 42.
Police and local sources said a tree crushed Momir near Shyampur Kumar Para area as he was returning from Bazar amid the storm.
Hearing his cries locals rescued him and rushed to Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor announced him dead.
Also read: 12 killed in Gaibandha, Faridpur as nor’wester lashes country
Ulipur police station’s Officer-in-Charge confirmed the incident.
Nor'wester also caused immense damage in several districts of the country including Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Bhola.
In Panchagarh, nor'wester hit with heavy rain and wind around 9pm on Friday.
Moreover, hailstorm was seen in some places of the district.
Also read: Nor’wester destroys 250 houses in Bhola
The Meteorological office recorded 47 Km per hour velocity of the wind during the storm which caused a long power cut in the district.
Many houses and crops were destroyed during this time.
Ferry services were suspended for a long time at Ilisha Ferry Ghat in Bhola due to the storm.
Many vehicles were stranded on both sides of the ghat due to this.
Also read: Nor’wester sweeps Joypurhat; 4 killed
On the other hand, a partial part of a boat carrying passengers sank at Dhal Char Union under Charfashion Upazila because of the storm.
However, no casualties were reported.
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Nor’wester damages houses, crops in Chuadanga
A number of houses and standing crops were damaged as nor’wester swept over Sadar, Damurhuda, Jibannagar and Alamdanga upazilas of Chuadanga district on Thursday.
The storm started around 12:25 pm and lasted for 30 minutes, said Samadul Haque, a meteorologist of Chuadanga Met office.
The wind speed of the storm was 55 kph while the Met office recoded 31 mm of rainfall during this period, he said.
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