Cyclone Fani appears tangible in Bangladesh ravaging Indian coastline

Publish: 6:52 PM, May 3, 2019 | Update: 6:52 PM, May 3, 2019

DHAKA, May 3, 2019 (BSS) – The skyline turned dark in vast part of Bangladesh since midday today as cyclone Fani dubbed to be the deadliest in decades for the region started approaching Bangladesh albeit with an weakened force after ravaging India’s eastern Odisha coastlines, weather officials said.

“We expect the cyclone to enter into Bangladesh through Khulna coastlines at 6 pm and likely to take the entire night to cross the country ravaging southwestern,” met office spokesman Omar Faruque told BSS at 5 pm.

He said the impact of the approaching cyclone caused downpour in parts of the country while the intensity of the rainfall was expected to increase in the coming hours.

Officials at the disaster management ministry control room in Dhaka and reports from different districts exposed to the risks of Fani wraths said several thousand people were evacuated to safe shelters while efforts were underway shift others to evade casualties.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now on a visit to London, meanwhile, issued directives asking all the public and private organizations to work in a well- coordinated way to face the cyclone.

“Work in a well-coordinated way to face the cyclonic storm Fani” and minimize the loss of lives and property, she said in a statement issued from London and urged the countrymen to remain prepared to face the natural disaster.

A premier’s office spokesman said Sheikh Hasina was constantly monitoring the situation and particularly asked the authorities concerned to bring all the people to safer places before the Fani hit Bangladesh.

“We are prepared for the cyclone . . . army, navy, coastguards and other agencies are ready to be called out for the disaster operation,” state minister for disaster management Dr Enamur Rahman, meanwhile, told a news briefing.

Disaster management ministry’s senior secretary Shah Kamal told BSS that by the midday over half a million people were moved out to cyclone shelters or safer places.

“In most vulnerable areas like river shoals, we are trying to help people move out along with their valuables and cattle as well,” he said.

Kamal said the evacuees were being provided dry food while “we have enough stock of relief materials for them”.

Reports said Red Crescent volunteers along with police and fire service personnel using megaphone were trying to convince people to quit their home for safer shelter.

Administrative officials said nearly two thirds of people in vulnerable areas in Koira and Dakop coastlines, through where the cyclone was likely to penetrate Bangladesh were evacuated.

A huge number of people were also evacuated at Satkhira’s Shyamnagar, Ashashuni, Debhata and district Sadar were also moved to safer places as the areas were exposed to higher risks of Fani’s wraths.

The tidal surges by now split a major embankment at Kurikatania area of Asashuni upazila. The latest met officice bulletin issued thid after noon said “the very severe cyclonic storm “FANI” (PRONUNCIATION: FONI) moved northeastwards, weakened slightly and lies over coastal odisha and adjoining northwest bay . . . at 03 pm today (03 may 2019).

It located the storm about 445 km southwest of Mongla port, 495 km southwest of Payra Port, 660 km west of Cox’s Bazar port and 660 km west of Chattogram Port.”

“It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further over Odisha-West Bengal coastal area, reach Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by midnight tonight.

Khulna and adjoining southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh has been experiencing the cyclone’s peripheral effect from morning of today.

“Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kms of the storm centre is about 140 kph rising to 160 kph in gusts/ squalls. Sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre,” the bulletin read.

The met office directed the Mongla and Payra ports to keep hoisted danger signal number 7 seven in a scale of 10 covering Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their
offshore islands and shoals.

Chattogram Port has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number six covering Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars.

The bulletin asked all fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea to remain in shelter till further notice.

Experts said wraths of Fani of almost category 5 was expected to be lesser in Bangladesh coasts compared to that of Odisha since it would lose its strength on its land routes minimizing risks of high number of casualties but
it could damage standing crops and infrastructure on a vast landmass.

Reports from India suggest Fani is weakening after barreling into the eastern coastal state of Odisha’s Puri but meteorologists there saying heavy rains, along with strong winds, will continue throughout Friday in the state,
where more a million people were evacuated.

“After making landfall this morning, cyclone Fani has started weakening and it’s likely to enter Bangladesh by tomorrow evening . . . But no cyclone ever had such a long duration in April,” India Meteorological Department director general K J Ramesh told reporters.

Two people died today after Fani slammed into eastern India sending coconut trees flying, blew away food stands and cut off power and water with winds gusting at speeds of up to 200 kilometres (125 miles) per hour.

The World Meteorological Organization said the storm was “one of the most intense” in 20 years in the region.

By late Thursday in India, Fani had sustained winds of about 155 miles per hour, nearly in the range of a Category 5 hurricane, said Derrick Herndon, an associate researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative
Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies.

“It’s remarkable in terms of its wind speed,” Mr. Herndon said. “The sustained winds are really near the top range of the winds we see in this part of the world.”