Bangladesh
Cyclone Sitrang Cyclone Sitrang to pass Bhola coast by dawn
Dhaka, October 24: Cyclone Sitrang is gradually approaching the Bangladesh coast. It has already started to affect Bangladesh. The center of the cyclone is expected to cross the Bangladesh coast between midnight tonight and early Tuesday morning. In a special bulletin of the Meteorological Department on Monday, Mongla and Payra seaports have been asked to show danger signal number 7 and Chittagong and Cox's Bazar seaports to show danger signal number 6.
The Meteorological Office is expecting that the storm will fully reach the coast by passing Bhola between Monday midnight and Tuesday morning. According to the forecast of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the center of Cyclone Sitrang will make landfall at Rangabali or Char Montaj area of Patuakhali on Monday midnight Bangladesh time. Then the wind speed will be maximum 50 knots or 93 kilometers per hour. Current wind speed is 62-88 kmph.
The diameter of this storm is 400 to 500 km. As a result, its extensions have already started rampaging the ground. Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and other sub-districts are raining with strong winds. Presently Sitrang is 170 km away from Payra port. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that the cyclone could make its main impact at midnight.
Due to adverse weather caused by Cyclone Sitrang, the ferry service has been stopped after the launch on the Daulatdia-Paturia route. The authorities stopped the ferries on this route from 4 pm on Monday to avoid accidents. Earlier, as the river was rough, the launch was stopped from 11 am.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has assigned 32 officers and employees to share information about Cyclone Sitrang. An office order in this regard has been issued by the ministry on Monday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered all concerned, including parliamentarians and Awami League leaders and workers in the coastal areas, to make all-out preparations to deal with the situation arising due to Cyclone Sitrang. He is regularly taking information from the field level officials and giving necessary instructions to the officials concerned to reduce the loss of life and property.
15 districts may be inundated with high tide of 5-7 feet due to advance of Cyclone Sitrang, Amavashya Tithi and excess of pressure difference. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman said that Barguna and Patuakhali will be most affected by Cyclone Sitrang.
