Panic escalates as ‘Mahasen’ fumes

The people of the country’s coastal regions started running for safety amid an escalating panic as the cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ is likely to hit the areas early Thursday.All airports, seaports and educational institutions in the regions have been shut after the maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar advised to hoist danger signal number seven.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended the operation of vessels and ferries on long routes till further notice.
Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar Airport were closed on Wednesday afternoon.
Squadron leader Rabiul Alam, station manager of the Shah Amanat airport, said all activities at the airport remained stopped since 4pm as the region has come under the danger signal number 7.
Meanwhile, all activities at the Chittagong Seaport have been suspended following the issuance of the danger signal number 7. The authorities have also issued ‘alert-3’ at the port.
Port secretary Syed Farhad Uddin Ahmed said the loading and loading of goods at the port were suspended.
All ships staying at the main jetty and mooring were asked to move away to the Outer Anchorage for safety, he said.
Chittagong and Karnaphuli EPZs were declared closed on Wednesday for an indefinite period.
Important equipment were being shifted from the local bases of Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy to avoid possible destruction.
The bogies and wagons of trains were being taken to safe places from different railway stations.
Directives have also been issued to take vessels from Cox’s Bazar and Mongla ports to safer places.
The government has taken all-out measures to shield possible loss of lives and property from the cyclone.
Some 2,968 permanent and temporary shelter centres have been kept ready in the coastal districts to evacuate people to those.
A total of 1,327 medical teams are also ready in 13 coastal districts to provide emergency medical services if Mahasen’ hits Bangladesh. There are six doctors in each team.
The holidays of the government officials and employees in the coastal districts have been cancelled to tackle any exigencies.
Twenty-two ships of Bangladesh Navy have been kept standby for conducting rescue operations and relief activities should ‘Mahasen’ makes a landfall in Bangladesh.
The cyclonic storm with estimated centre pressure of 996 hPa may cross Khepupara-Teknaf coast near Chittagong by early morning Thursday morning.
However, its peripheral gusty/squally wind may affect the coastal regions of Bangladesh from 10pm today (Wednesday), said a Met Office special bulletin.
It was centred at 6pm today (Wednesday) about 700 kms southwest of Chittagong port, 640 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 575 kms south-southwest of Mongla port.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the storm centre is about 62 kph rising to 90 kph in gusts/ squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the storm centre.
The maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number seven as the cyclonic storm ‘Mohasen’ is roaring towards the country’s coastal regions.
The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali and Barisal, and their offshore islands and chars will come under the danger signal number seven.
Mongla port has been keep hoisted danger signal number five. The coastal districts of Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, and their offshore islands and chars will come under the danger signal number five.
Under the influence of the storm, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by tidal surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 90-100 kph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.
The coastal districts of Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up 80-90 kph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.
Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division.
In Chittagong, the district administration opened 479 shelter centres.
The holidays of all officials and employees of the district and upazila administrations have been cancelled to face ‘Mahasen’.
Control rooms have been opened at the district administration and Chittagong City Corporation.
In Cox’s Bazar, the district administration opened 534 shelter centres.
Besides, 533 educational institutions were also kept ready for people to take shelter. Around 7000 volunteers alongside 113 medical teams were kept ready.
In Khulna, people were passing sleepless nights amid fear of being hit by the cyclone.
All warships at Naval base BNS Mongla have already been shifted to Tutumir Naval Base in Khulna while trawlers fishing in the deep sea started returning to safety.
A total of 169 cyclone shelters have been kept ready to avoid possible loss of lives from the cyclonic storm Mahasen.
Ten control rooms have been opened at district and upazila levels that will monitor the development round the clock.
In Bagerhat, people were being shifted to 201 cyclone shelters. Besides, 10 control rooms have been opened while medical teams and dry food kept stockpiled.
In Satkhira, coastal people were being evacuated to 110 cyclone shelters.
Besides, 187 medical teams were ready to provide emergency treatment.
Similar measures have also been taken in other coastal districts to minimise possible losses from the cyclone. UNB

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