Dhaka, November 09 – Five people were killed in Bagerhat, Khulna and Patuakhali districts as cyclone ‘Bulbul’ made landfall in Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of the country early Sunday and weakened into a deep depression. Meanwhile, two people, who took shelter in cyclone centres, died of cardiac arrest after being panicked in Patuakhali and Satkhira districts.
A fisherman was killed and four others went missing after a fishing trawler sank in the Meghna River in Charfasson Upazila here on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Khorshed. All the victims hailed from Abdullahpur of the Upazila.
Twenty fishermen were returning home after selling hilsa in Barishal markets when their trawler capsized in the river around 1 pm, said Ruhul Amin, Charfasson Upazila Nirbahi Officer.
Although 15 fishermen managed to swim ashore, the rest went missing, he said.
Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard salvaged the trawler and retrieved the body of Khorshed, said its South Zone officer Mahbub.
The cyclone, which turned into ‘severe’ from ‘very severe’ on Saturday night, crossed the West Bengal-Khulna coast near the Sundarbans around 5 am and then weakened further into a deep depression.
The deep depression over Bagerhat, Barishal and Patuakhali regions moved slightly east-northwards and is lying over Barishal, Patuakhali and Bhola regions at 3 pm on Sunday, said Met office latest weather update.
It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction further and weaken gradually by giving precipitation, the update said, adding that under its influence, steep pressure gradient persists over the north bay and southern part of Bangladesh.
The cyclone uprooted trees, damaged dwellings and croplands in different coastal districts, including Patuakhali, Bhola and Satkhira and Khulna. – UNB with GreenWatch News Desk
