Maritime signal
Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh’s maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been asked to hoist danger signal number seven as cyclonic storm “Mora” heads towards the country’s coasts.
Meanwhile, the two other maritime ports of the country –Mongla and Payra – have been asked to hoist signal number five, said a special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department published on Monday.
According to the bulletin, the cyclonic storm moved slightly north-northeastwards over east-central Bay and adjoining north Bay and was centered about 530kms south-southwest of Chittagong port.
It was staying at 445kms south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 580kms south-southeast of Mongla port and 510kms south-southeast of Payra port at 9:00am Monday, when the bulletin was published.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction and may cross Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by tomorrow morning (Tuesday),” the Meteorological Department warned.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the cyclone centre is about 62 kph rising to 88 kph in gusts/squalls.
Sea will remain very rough near the system.
Maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to lower local warning signal no. four but instead hoist danger signal number seven.
Coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven.
Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower local warning signal no. four but instead hoist danger signal number five.
Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number five.
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm ‘Mora’ the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
The coastal districts of Cox’s bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 62-88 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the cyclonic storm.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, it added.
Meanwhile, plying of all types of vessels has been remained suspended at Chittagong seaport channel.
The port also ordered to remove all the ships from the port jetty due to high tide.
Besides, the district administration will hold an emergency meeting today (Monday) with Red Crescent team, law enforcers and others for coordination of overall disaster management works, according to reports.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has already ordered to stop loading and unloading of goods from the vessels anchored at the port jetties and the outer anchorage.
NDTV adds: The deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm Mora and is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh near Chittagong in the next 24 hours, the Met department has said.
According to the Met department, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The storm will result in squally winds with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60kmph along and off Andaman Island and adjoining seas during next 48 hours.
Sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Andaman Islands and off West Bengal Coast in next 24 hours and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
The storm, according to the forecast, is going to turn into a severe one between Monday and Tuesday and by May 31 it would become a deep depression.
Winds would gust at a speed of 100-130kmph when it turns into a severe cyclonic storm, IMD said.
Sources say the cyclone may also help pull in the monsoon faster towards the mainland. The monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala anytime now.
Cyclone Vardah, which struck Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in December last year, has caused extensive damage to Chennai city. Nearly the 14,000 trees were uprooted by the cyclone.
The cyclone had also damaged the power supply network in the city.
BBN/SSK/AD