Thursday, 16 Jan, 2025
  Dhaka
Thursday, 16 Jan, 2025
The Daily Post

Cyclone Remal hits the coastal areas

Staff Reporter

Cyclone Remal hits the coastal areas

# Hundreds of villages flooded, thousands waterlogged

# Educational institutions to be used as shelters

# Man dies while going to shelter in Patuakhali

# Sundarbans tourist areas inundated by tidal surge

 

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Remal and hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

The impact of Cyclone Remal was seen from yesterday morning. Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal number 10. The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their outlying islands and chars will be under danger signal number 10. Maritime ports of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal No 9. River ports in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokati, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar districts have been asked to hoist danger signal No 4.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has directed to use educational institutions as shelters to protect coastal areas from the damage caused by cyclone Remal. If the class activities are to be stopped in the concerned educational institution, it has been asked to do so locally.

Until the writing of the report, the tidal surge has occurred due to the impact of cyclone Remal. Coastal districts are being flooded. People living in these areas are being evacuated to safe shelters. Many areas of the coast have been left without electricity. The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel on the Karnaphuli River has been closed for 12 hours due to the cyclone.

Under the influence of the cyclone, the water level inside the Sundarbans, including the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding and Eco-Tourism Center, has increased by three to four feet. The forest area has been flooded by tidal surges several feet higher than the normal tide.

About 20 villages in Rangabali upazila of coastal Patuakhali have been flooded due to the collapse of the embankment. In Rangabali upazila, water has entered the village after crossing the village protection dam in South Charmontaj Nayarchar area. About 10 villages, including Bowbazar, Nayarchar, South Charmontaj, Uttar Charmontaj, Mollagram and Char Anda, have been inundated. Besides, several other villages, including Gorubhanga, Charlata and Chinabunia, have been inundated as water has entered from several places of the Gram Raksha Dam of Chalitabunia Union. In Patuakhali, a young man named Md Shariful Islam (24) was swept away by high tide while going to a shelter in Kawarchar area of Kalapara upazila under the influence of cyclone Remal.

Under the influence of cyclone Remal, Nijhum Dwip union has been inundated due to incessant rains and tidal waters in Hatia upazila of Noakhali. Various areas of Nijhum Dwip union have been flooded due to the tide that started yesterday morning. The water level in the river around Hatia has increased by 8 to 10 feet above the normal tide. As a result, 50,000 people of 9 wards have become waterlogged. The entire Nijhum Dwip has been flooded due to incessant rains and abnormal tidal waters. As a result, the communication system has broken down here and water entered the houses. Due to lack of embankment, Nijhum Dwip is easily flooded by tidal water.

Meanwhile, the flood control embankment at Baliatali in Barguna's Amtali has collapsed. Under the influence of cyclone Remal, 27 villages of Amtali and Taltali upazilas have already been flooded. The Upazila Nirbahi Office has closed 258 educational institutions in the two upazilas. Ferry services on Amtali-Barguna route remain suspended.

The water level of all the rivers in the coastal district of Pirojpur has started rising. The water is flowing over the danger line. Due to the rise in the tide of the river, water has started entering various low-lying areas and localities along the banks. The low-lying areas of the district including Indurkani, Bara Masumia, Mathbaria have been inundated by tidal waters. High-lying areas have also been submerged. However, no casualties have been reported so far.

At least 13 houses have been submerged in tidal waters in Satkhira's Shyamnagar upazila. When the water level rises compared to normal, Kalbari fisherman para of the upazila is submerged. The families have been living on the banks of the Kalbari Chuna River for many years after losing their property due to natural calamities at different times.

Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Remal in the Bay of Bengal, the water level of various rivers in Bagerhat has started rising.  Due to the rise in the water level of the river, various low-lying areas and localities along the banks have been inundated. According to the Water Development Board, the water level of the rivers in the district has increased up to five feet. However, if the cyclone hits in the evening, there is less risk of tidal surge due to low tide in the river.

However, before the onset of the cyclone, many villages on the banks of the river in the district sadar, Morrelganj, Sharankhola, Mongla and Rampal upazilas were inundated by high tide. Under the influence of cyclone Remal, drizzle and gusty winds have been blowing in Koyra upazila of Khulna since morning. The wind speed is increasing gradually. The people of the upazila are passing time in anxiety about the weak embankment as the tidal water has increased by 3 to 4 feet than normal. If the tide water rises a few feet, the area will be submerged by the dam. Residents have started moving to safer shelters in panic.

 

ZH