At least two deaths were reported Wednesday in Bangladesh and five in India  as Cyclone Yaas triggered storms and floods. Reports sent by UNB correspondents indicate that dozens of houses have been damaged and low-lying areas inundated, cutting off road communication in some areas. In Bhola, a man was killed after being hit by a falling tree branch during a storm triggered by Yaas in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Abu Taher, 48, a local farmer. Bhola Deputy Commissioner Md Tawfiq-E-Lahi Chowdhury said Tk 20,000 has been provided to Taher’s family as assistance. Bhola has been seeing drizzles and strong wind since Wednesday morning. Cyclone Yaas has made landfall in India’s Odisha. Also read: 5 killed, damages incurred as cyclone Yaas completes landfall in eastern India Child drowns in Bagerhat Meanwhile, four-year-old Jinia died this afternoon after drowning near her house in Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat. Morrelganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Delwar Hossain said that the roads and drains of the Upazila have been inundated due to an unusual increase in the water level of Panguchi River. Jinia fell into the overflowing drain and drowned, he said. Meanwhile, at least 5,000 families in Sarankhola, Morrelganj and Mongla upazilas have been stranded today as water level in the rivers adjacent to these places have gone up due to the impact of Cyclone Yaas. Besides, an embankment in Mongla was damaged at three places due to excessive tidal pressure leaving at least 500 families stranded in Kainmari, Sundartala, Kaltala, Jaymoni and South Kaimari villages of the upazila on Wednesday afternoon. Also read: Cyclone Yaas: 2 reported dead in Bangladesh Low-lying areas inundated in Khulna Low-lying areas in Koyra, Dacope and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna were inundated by tidal surge triggered by Cyclone Yaas. The residents of the upazilas have been experiencing light rains or drizzles since Wednesday noon and the local administration has opened over 1,000 cyclone shelters. The local Met Office, meanwhile, recorded 21mm rainfall in the past two days.

The very severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is likely to move north-northwestwards further and may cross the northern Odisha-West Bengal coast by Wednesday noon.   Around 3 am on Wednesday,  Yaas was centred about 515 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 505 kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 320 kms south-southwest of Mongla port and 350 kms south-southwest of Payra port, the Met office said in a special bulletin.   The maximum sustained wind speed within 84 kms of the very severe cyclone centre is about 130 kmph, rising to 150 kmph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very high near the very severe cyclone centre, the Met office said.   Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three (r) three.   The districts of Khulna,Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur,  Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Noakhali,  Feni,  Laxmipur, Chandpur and Chattogram and their offshore islands may experience wind speed of up to 80-100 kmph in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy showers during the passage of the storm.   Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Low-lying districts flooded as water level rises   Under the influence of very severe cyclone and the full moon phase, the low-lying areas of the districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram are likely to be inundated by 03-06 ft height above normal astronomical tide. Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Maritime ports in Bangladesh asked to hoist signal No 3   All fishing boats and trawlers over the north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.  

An alert has been sounded in the ports areas of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra after Cyclone ‘Yaas’ over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas moved north-northwestwards in the past six hours and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.   Around 6 am on Tuesday, the severe cyclonic storm was centred about 575 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 520 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 515 km south-southwest of Mongla port and 480 km south-southwest of Payra port, the Met office said in a special bulletin.   Due to favourable atmospheric conditions, the severe cyclonic storm is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northwesterly direction and may reach the northwest bay by May 26 early morning, it said. Read: Khulna preparing for cyclone Yash   Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the severe cyclone centre is about 89 kmph rising to 117 kmph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain high near the severe cyclone centre, the Met office said.   Also read: Cyclone Yaas: Maritime ports in Bangladesh asked to hoist signal No 2   Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal number two (r) two. All fishing boats and trawlers over the north bay and deep sea have been advised to take shelter and remain in shelter until further notice.  

When the country is grappling with  coronavirus pandemic, cyclone ‘Amphan’ is approaching towards Bangladesh as an another danger, putting a big challenge to the authorities  to evacuate people in coastal areas maintaining social distancing and hygiene with limited resources.