Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Cyclonic storm “Komen” crossed Chittagong coast and now lies over Noakhali and adjoining areas as a land depression, said the latest bulletin of the Bangladesh Met office.
The maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to lower danger signal number seven but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three.
On the other hand, the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower danger signal number five but instead hoist local cautionary signal No. three.
“Coastal observations and radar imageries indicate that the coast crossing cyclonic storm “komen” crossed Chittagong coast near Sandwip at 6:00am today and now lies over Noakhali and adjoining land area as a land depression,” said the latest bulletin of the Met office issued on Friday.
“The Komen is likely to move west-northwestwards inland and weaken gradually by giving precipitation,” the bulletin added.
All fishing boats, trawlers and marine vessels over north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till this afternoon and proceed with caution till further notice.
India Today adds: After Chittagong in Bangladesh, cyclonic storm Komen, which has become a deep depression, is now heading towards India.
The impact will be seen in different districts of West Bengal specially those on Indo-Bangla border.
The cyclone will move over Murshidabad, Nadia, north 24 Parganas, south 24 Parganas, Birbhum and then towards Jharkand.
According to the IMD, rainfall would occur at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal on Friday and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on August 1.
Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off West Bengal and north Odisha coasts during next 24 hours.
Keeping in view the situation, district administration has been alerted in all districts across West Bengal.
The meteorological department also warned that rainfall would occur at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and south Assam in next 24 hours.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph would prevail over Mizoram and Tripura during next 24 hours and over Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours commencing from 31 July morning.
Similarly, Jharkhand will experience the rains on Saturday.
The cyclone hit the Bangladesh coast on Thursday evening, bringing with it heavy rainfall in Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, the the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
FLOOD CRISIS IN ODISHA
The Odisha government on Friday issued a fresh flood alert in the wake of cyclone 'Komen' which is expected to worsen the flood situation in five districts where three persons have died and about 4 lakh people have been affected.
"Keeping the possible impact of cyclone Komen in mind, the district collectors have been directed to remain alert to meet any eventuality," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) G V V Sarma said.
Quoting the IMD forecast, Sarma said the northern districts of Odisha are expected to experience heavy rainfall under the influence of Komen in the next 2-3 days.
Sarma said that bodies of all three persons killed in the flood were retrieved by personnel of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force.
He, however, said that there had been a slight improvement in the flood situation with no major rainfall occurring as the water level in the three rivers Subarnarekha, Budhabalang and Baitarani was receding fast.
Replying to a question, the SRC said of the 358 villages under 11 Blocks and one ULB in five districts like Mayurbhanj,Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhardak and Balasore, about 60 villages continued to remain marooned for the second consecutive day today. He said 3.93 lakh people have been affected by the current spell of flood.
Asked about the breaches on river embankments, Sarma said two breaches occurred on the Baitarani - one in Jajpur district and the other in Bhadrak district.
Breaches also formed on the Subarnarekha in Balasore district and the Kani in Jajpur district.
"The officials have been working day and night to repair the breaches in river embankments," Sarma said.
Most of the people evacuated yesterday have returned to their homes, except 250 persons residing in a relief camp in Balasore district, he said, adding 158 quintals of flattened rice and 15.6 quintals of molasses were distributed among the affected people in the districts of Balasore and Mayurbhanj.
Vast crop areas have been inundated and a number of private houses damaged due to floods, he said, adding that five ODRAF units and one NDRF unit were deployed in the affected districts.
The situation in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts is almost normal, he said.
BBN/ANS