Severe damage incurred in many places as Cyclone Remal hits Bangladesh

Staff Correspondent

Cyclone Remal hit the country, especially the coast areas, with great force. The flood created due to cyclone broke the dam and submerged the large areas. The front part of the cyclone hit the coast shortly after 6pm on Sunday. Two deaths were reported till 1:15 Sunday night.

Sustained winds were 90 km/h within 64 km of the cyclone center, increasing to 120 km/h with gusts. After 12 o'clock in Sunday night, the storm's fury increases with the tidal water. Coastal districts including Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Khulna, Satkhira, Cox's Bazar were inundated by the tide. The full cyclone was expected to cross the coast in the next 5-7 hours. Heavy rains are likely to occur in the country throughout the day due to the impact of the cyclone.

Meanwhile, the coastal districts were inundated by high tide from noon due to the impact of the front of the cyclone. But this time too Sundarbans has become a shield in front of the cyclone. Millions of trees in the mangrove forest have been damaged in more than two hours of continuous fighting with Remal. Dubla, Katka, Kochikhali and Hiran Point areas of Sundarbans are submerged under 7 to 8 feet of water. Many animals came and take shelter in the locality. A few forest offices and tin sheds along with the kitchen of the patrol post were blown away, along with the mud house of Dubla's makeshift Shuntkipalli. The pontoon of the Dubla Forest Office Ghat was lost in the sea due to the high tide. Ponds, the only source of fresh water for officials and wildlife in various forest office areas of the Sundarbans, have also been submerged in brackish water.

Sundarbans trees have also suffered extensive damage. No one has been able to ascertain what happened to the forest's wildlife, including the tiger-deer and the World Heritage side mangroves. The Bay of Bengal is turbulent. Due to the impact of Cyclone Rimal, power supply has been stopped in Bagerhat district as gusty winds uprooting trees on power lines.

On Sunday at 11:30 PM, the Meteorological Department said in a special briefing that due to the impact of the cyclone, there may be heavy to very heavy rains with gusts and gusty winds in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions. Landslides may occur in hilly areas of Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chittagong. In addition, coastal districts may be inundated by wind-driven tides 8 to 12 feet higher than normal tides. Great danger signal number 10 at Mongla and Payra seaports and 9 at Chittagong and Cox's Bazar seaports are maintained. Rainfall and wind speed may increase after 12 pm. It will take another 5-6 hours for the cyclone to cross its full path. Wind speed will be 100 to 120 kmph. Cyclone may retain strength on Monday morning. While briefing journalists on the latest situation of Cyclone Remal at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman said that the lower areas of Patuakhali started flooding earlier than expected due to the advance of Cyclone Rimal. The wind has caused a lot of damage in these areas.

He said that all preparations have been made to deal with the cyclone. More than 8 lakh people in coastal areas have been evacuated to safe shelters. The leave of all officials and employees of the Ministry of Disaster Management has been canceled until the impact of the cyclone is over. Meanwhile, due to the impact of the cyclone, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts including Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cox's Bazar were flooded with high tide water on Sunday afternoon. Roads are also sunk, water enters houses and shops. Thousands of houses in Bagerhat and Patuakhali were flooded by tidal water. Around 20 villages of Rangabali Upazila, an isolated island of Patuakhali, were flooded after the dam broke in the afternoon.

In Kalapara of Patuakhali, swepting away by high tide water Sundayafternoon, a young man named Md Shariful Islam (24) died. Apart from this, a 65-year-old man, Shawkat Moral died of a stroke while being taken to a shelter in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. At least 21 villages including Naziratek, Kutubdiapara, Samitipara of Ward No.1, North Nuniachata of Ward No. 2 have been flooded in Cox's Bazar since 6 pm on Sunday. Thousands of people from these villages were seen running to safe shelter with domestic animals, necessary equipment and clothes. A few educational institutions, public halls and some hotels in the city were opened to shelter the coastal people. 317 Hajj pilgrims were sent to Dhaka by bus on Sunday after the Hajj flight was canceled due to the closure of Chittagong's Shah Amanat International Airport due to Cyclone Remal. Power cut in many areas due to fallen trees. For security reasons, all flights at Cox's Bazar, Chittagong and Barisal airports were stopped on Sunday. Navigation in coastal districts is closed. More than 9 thousands shelters are kept ready. Adequate dry food and medicines are kept in the shelters. The government has canceled the leave of the officials of all ministries including city corporation, municipality. All the government forces and volunteers were on the spots in the rescue operation.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on April May 26 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)