Cyclone
Cyclone Sitrang: Educational institutions in 3 divisions declared closed
Due to the emergencies arising out of the impact of Cyclone Sitrang, educational institutions in three coastal divisions have been declared closed till further notice.
All educational institutions in Chattogram, Barishal and Khulna divisions are covered under the declaration of the Education Ministry issued on Monday (October 24, 2022).
The Ministry also gave instructions to use the educational institutions in the cyclone-affected areas as shelter centres, it added. Public schools and health complexes in Bangladesh are designed to double up as shelter centres during emergencies.
Read Cyclone Sitrang weakens into depression
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is said to be monitoring developments centering the cyclone round the clock, and issuing necessary instructions to the government officials to mitigate its impact.
“The prime minister is giving various directives to different ministries, directorates and other government offices round the clock,” PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB.
Also read: Cyclone Sitrang: Many areas in Dhaka, Narayanganj plunge into darkness following disruption in power supply
Cyclone Sitrang: Many areas in Dhaka, Narayanganj plunge into darkness following disruption in power supply
Many areas in Dhaka and Narayanganj cities plunged into darkness following a huge disruption in power supply that authorities blamed on the approaching Cyclone Sitrang.
According to officials of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Desco, the two entities which control the distribution network in Dhaka and Narayanganj, following a fault in Sympur, Ulan and Maniknagar grid line, many areas experienced blackouts for hours.
“Due to the grid-disruption, power supply went off in Dhanmondi, Sher-e-Banglanagar, Kakrail, and Kajla in Dhaka city and also some areas in Narayanganj city," Bikash Dewan, managing director of DPDC, told UNB.
Read Cyclone Sitrang weakens into depression
He said many areas also experienced blackouts due to the collapse of trees on the power distribution lines due to cyclone Sitrang.
Some 32 teams of DPDC have been working to restore supply in the disrupted areas, he added.
He also said that power supply came down to 700 MW from 1,400 MW following the disruption in some grid lines in DPDC areas.
As a result, consumers have been experiencing loadshedding despite relatively cool weather, he said.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Educational institutions in 3 divisions declared closed
Desco managing director Kausar Ameer Ali noted that power supply was disrupted in Uttara, Gulshan and Mirpur areas.
“Mainly falling of trees and flying construction materials and other objects over the distribution lines led to the disruption in Desco areas,” he noted.
A good number of Desco teams are working to fix the problems and restore power supply, he added, saying consumers in his area have been experiencing loadshedding since evening due to lower supply against the demand.
Read 110 evacuated from isolated char in Bhola ahead of Sitrang landfall
What each cyclone warning signal means
As Cyclone Sitrang approaches the Bangladesh coast, the weather department has asked Mongla and Payra seaports to hoist danger signal No. 7.
The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and their offshore islands also came under danger signal No. 7.
Chattogram and Cox's Bazar ports have been advised to hoist danger signal No. 6.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Fire service on high alert, opens monitoring cell
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, 11 cyclone warning signals are used for seaports.
Here’s what the warning signals mean
Distant cautionary signal No. 1
There is a region of squally weather – wind speed of 61 kilometres per hour – in the distant sea where a storm may form.
Distant warning signal No. 2
A storm – wind speed of 62-88 kilometres per hour – has formed in the distant deep sea; ships may fall into danger if they leave the harbour.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Power entities open control rooms
Local cautionary signal No. 3
The port is threatened by squally weather – wind speed of 40-50 kilometres per hour.
Local warning signal No. 4
The port is threatened by a storm – wind speed of 51-61 kilometres per hour – but it does not appear that the danger is serious enough to justify extreme precautionary measures.
Danger signal No. 5
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity – wind speed of 62-88 kilometres per hour – that is expected to cross the coast to the south of Chattogram port or Cox's Bazar port and east of Mongla port.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Many areas in Dhaka, Narayanganj plunge into darkness following disruption in power supply
Danger signal No. 6
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity – wind speed of 62-88 kilometres per hour – that is expected to cross the coast to the north of Chattogram port or Cox's Bazar port and west of Mongla port.
Danger signal No. 7
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of light or moderate intensity – wind speed of 62-88 kilometres per hour – that is expected to cross over or near the port.
Great danger signal No. 8
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity – wind speed of 89 kilometres per hour or more – that is expected to cross the coast to the south of Chattogram port or Cox's Bazar port and to the east of Mongla port.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Educational institutions in 3 divisions declared closed
Great danger signal No. 9
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity – wind speed of 89 kilometres per hour or more – that is expected to cross the coast to the north or Chattagram port or Cox's Bazar and to the west of Mongla port.
Great danger signal No. 10
The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity – wind speed of 89 kilometres per hour or more – that is expected to cross over or near the port.
Failure of communication No. 11
Communications with the Storm Warning Centre have broken down and local officers consider that a devastating cyclone is following.
Read 110 evacuated from isolated char in Bhola ahead of Sitrang landfall
Sitrang likely to hit by midnight or early Tuesday with 5-8 ft tidal surge
Cyclone Sitrang is likely to intensify further, move in a north, north-easterly direction and cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Khepupara by midnight or early Tuesday, the latest Met office bulletin said.
“Sitrang over east-central Bay, adjoining west-central Bay and north Bay, moved north-northwest wards over northwest Bay and adjoining northeast Bay,” said the bulletin.
Most parts of the country, including Dhaka, are seeing moderate to heavy rains since Monday morning under the impact of the approaching cyclone.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Power distribution, transmission entities asked to open control rooms
Authorities have prepared more than 7,000 cyclone shelters to evacuate people while all fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay and deep sea have been asked to remain anchored until further notice.
Authorities in Chattogram and other hilly districts have warned that landslides could occur if incessant rains continue.
Besides, the low-lying areas of coastal Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar districts and their offshore islands and char areas are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surges at 5-8 feet, said the bulletin.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Power supply disrupted in Pirojpur, Madaripur
UNB correspondents from southern coastal region reported heavy rains and tidal surges since this morning.
The maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep danger signal No 7 hoisted while for Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar it’s signal No 6.
Sitrang was centered at 12 pm on Monday about 440 km southwest of Chattogram port, 395 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 365 km south-southwest of Mongla port, and 335 km south-southwest of Payra port.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: PM Hasina monitoring situation, giving instructions
The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and three others offshore islands will come under danger signal 7.
Besides, the river ports of these districts have been advised to hoist danger signal 3.
The coastal districts of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar and three other offshore islands will also come under danger signal 6.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Nothing much to worry, says State Minister Enamur
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 kph rising to 88kph in gusts or squalls, it added.
North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh are likely to experience gusty or squally winds of 50-60 kph due to cylone Sitrang.
Preparations taken to evacuate 3 lakh people in Bhola char areas
The district administration has taken preparations to move some three lakh residents of the char areas of Bhola district to the shelters as cyclone ‘Sitrang’ is likely to make a landfall in southern Bangladesh coast by early Tuesday.
Due to the impact of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ the residents of Bhola districts have been experiencing light to moderate rain since Monday morning.
Mahbub Rahman, an officer of Bhola Weather Observatory Centre, said the local met office recorded 72 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 3 pm on Monday .
Besides, the launch and ferry services on Dhaka-Barishal route remained suspended.
The low-lying areas of Dhalchar area were flooded due to tidal surges caused by cyclone ‘Sitrang’.
Six teams of Bangladesh Coast Guards are working in the district and they were seen making people alert about the cyclone through loudspeakers.
Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Nothing much to worry, says State Minister Enamur
Deputy Commissioner Toufique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, said already 746 cyclone shelters were prepared while 1,306 educational institutions will also be kept ready.
Besides, the authorities opened eight control rooms while 76 medical teams and 13,600 volunteers were also kept ready, he said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation officer Delwar Hossain said 25 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 5 lakh were allocated while preparation were taken to provide 1000 packets of dry food at the cyclone shelters.
Cyclone Sitrang: Flight operations at Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal airports suspended
Flight operations to and from Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Barishal airports have been suspended due to the inclement weather.
The flight operations to and from the airports were suspended at 3 pm today and will remain shut till 12 pm on Tuesday, Mohammad Sohel Quamruzzaman, public relatiosn officer of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority told UNB.
The decision has been taken due to the impact of the cyclonic storm ‘Sitrang’ as it may make a landfall in the southern coast of the country by early Tuesday.
The decision to resume the flight operations will be taken after observing the overall situation, he said.
Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Nothing much to worry, says State Minister Enamur
Cyclone Sitrang: Nothing much to worry, says State Minister Enamur
Bangladesh State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman on Monday (October 24, 2022) said there is nothing much to worry about the approaching cyclone Sitrang as it’s unlikely to be a super storm.
The state minister said this while talking to reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting of Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Flight operations at Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal airports suspended
Cyclone Sitrang over east-central Bay and adjoining west-central Bay is moving in a north-northwesterly direction and likely to intensify into a severe cyclone, he said.
Sitrang is likely to hit 13 coastal districts and the government has prepared 7,030 cyclone shelters for the people being evacuated, he added.
Enamur added that the Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard members will evacuate people from hard-to-reach areas as cyclone Sitrang is heading towards Bangladesh.
“We’ve requested the representatives of the armed forces and the Coast Guard to assist us in relocating people from danger zones to the safe cyclone shelters and they’ve agreed. The volunteers of the Fire Service and the Red Crescent are also working alongside volunteers of Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) to ensure safety to the affected people,” Enamur said.
Replying to a question, he said that Sitrang is a severe cyclonic storm and it is unlikely to turn into a very severe or super cyclone like Sidr in 2007.
“We’ve prepared a total of 7,030 cylcone shelters in 15 coastal districts where around 25 lakh people can be accommodated. In each of these districts, we’ve allocated Tk 5 lakh and supplied daily essentials like rice and lentil so that people can eat cooked food. Besides, dry foods like biscuits have also been made available so that people may not suffer from hunger,” Enamur said.
Asked when Sitrang will hit Bangladesh, the state minister said that the impact will be between 6:00am to 7:00am on Tuesday morning.
“The Met office has hoisted danger signal 7 in various coastal districts including Bagerhat, which may go up to signal 10. We’ll ensure the safety of people and their cattle, but we can’t assure that the agricultural and fisheries resources will remain unaffected,” Enamur added.
Cyclone Sitrang may cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Khepupara by early morning Tuesday (October 25, 2022) and heavy rains would continue to lash the country under its impact, according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Metrological Department.
Read Preparations taken to evacuate 3 lakh people in Bhola char areas
Cyclone Sitrang: Loading, unloading suspended at Chittagong Port; Alert-3 issued
The Chittagong Port authorities on Monday suspended loading and unloading of containers fearing possible damages due to the approaching cyclone Sitrang.
The authorities issued Alert No 3 for the port.
“All the ships of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) have been sent to the outer anchorage. Besides, lighter vessels have also been removed from the channel and shifted to Shah Amanat Bridge area. Loading and unloading of goods and containers are currently suspended, while large ships have been sent to the deep sea” said Md Omar Faruq, Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority.
Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Everything you need to know
A control room has also been opened, he said.
The met office has hoisted cautionary signal no 6 in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar ports and signal no 7 in Mongla and Payra ports.
The wind is blowing at a speed of 62kph within 54km of the cyclone center, which has the possibility of reaching 88kph when the cyclone reaches its peak.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat
Cyclone Sitrang: Rain disrupts commute in Dhaka
Rain triggered by Cyclone Sitrang has been causing commute woes for Dhaka dwellers since this morning. Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 28 mm rains in 9 hours till 12 pm.
People, especially office and school goers, struggled to reach their destinations amid the rain due to lack of public transport in the morning.
Read:Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat
Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat
Local authorities in Bagerhat district on Monday (October 24, 2022) said that vulnerable people would be evacuated to cyclone shelters to save lives as cyclone Sitrang was approaching towards Bangladeshi coast with a forecast to hit the country by early Tuesday (October 25, 2022).
The government has kept a total of 344 cyclone shelters ready in nine upazilas of the coastal district, which can accommodate around two lakh people along with their cattle.
Mohammad Azizur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bagerhat, said that they were working to ensure that the impact of the cyclone could have minimum damage.
Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Everything you need to know
“We’ve taken allout preparations to face Sitrang by keeping dry food, medical teams and rescue teams ready,” he said.
In the district’s Sharonkhola, Mongla, Rampal and Morelganj upazilas, the local administration has been asking people to go to the nearest cyclone shelters through loudspeakers.
Heavy rains have been reported in the district.
Read Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat
Mongla Meteorological Department has recorded 29mm rain from 6:00am to 9:00am on Monday morning. Rising water has started to inundate the low-lying areas, while high tide was impacting the Sundarbans.
The Mongla Seaport is also bearing the brunt. All kinds of loading and unloading of goods at the port have been suspended, while vessels have been asked to stay close to the shore.
A 30km-long embankment that protects Bagerhat from high tide is currently at risk too.
Read Inland water transport suspended as Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ approaches
According to Bagerhat Water Development Board (WDB), at least 100km of areas could go under water if Sitrang damages the embankment.
“The wind is blowing at a speed of 62kph within 54km of the cyclone centre, which has the possibility of reaching 88kph. We’ve asked the Mongla Port authorities to hoist cautionary signal no 7,” said Amaresh Chandra Dhali, Officer (acting) of Mongla Met Office.
Read Sitrang: Loading, unloading suspended at Chattogram Port; Alert-3 issued