Dhaka, May 26 : Eighteen warships, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters of Bangladesh Navy have been kept ready to combat the effects of Cyclone Yaas.As part of its three-tier preparations to carry out post-cyclone emergency rescue operations, Navy has put 18 ships on standby in areas like Chattogram, Mongla, Barishal, Jhalokati, Barguna, Patuakhali, Khulna, Satkhira, Pirojpur, Narayanganj and Saint Martin Island.
Navy ships – Samudra Avijan, Sagar, Shadhinota, Prottoy, Nirmul, Shapla, Nirbhoy, Aporajoy, Adommo, Gomti, Hatia, Sandeep, Shah Paran, Shah Makdum, LCT-105, LCVP-011 and LCVP-013 – have taken necessary preparations to collect information regarding rescue operations in the sea areas alongside maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters, according to Inter Services Public Relation Directorate.
Besides, all the Navy contingents deployed in the coastal areas are conducting precautionary campaigns in the public interest. Moreover, they have been providing overall support to the local administration to evacuate the locals from dangerous areas to safer places.
Necessary arrangements have also been made with the local administration for rendering assistance – coordinating relief, including providing additional relief under Navy’s management. Navy medical teams have been kept ready to provide emergency medical assistance.
Also, preparations have been made to relocate the displaced Myanmar nationals living in Bhasan Char to a predetermined cyclone safe shelter on the island; necessary medical supplies, life jackets and one month’s dry food have been stored there, too.
Navy headquarters and all the regional commands are closely monitoring the movement of the storm.
Meanwhile, Yaas has hit eastern India, killing at least three people in Odisha state and forcing more than 1.2 million people to seek shelter.
Yaas destroyed tens of thousands of houses, forcing the closure of the busiest regional airport in Kolkata city, and bringing storm surges to coastal areas after making landfall at about 9am local time Wednesday.
The Indian Meteorological Department classified Yaas as a “very severe cyclonic storm,” reports UNB.
