The Met Office bulletin for the midnight of Friday predicted that cyclone Roanu could strike coastal Bangladesh on Saturday.
Published : 21 May 2016, 03:55 AM
“The cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’ (ecp 992 hpa) over north bay and adjoining west-central bay moved east-northeastward and now lies over northwest bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast (near lat 20.60 n & long 87.70e) and was centred at midnight last night (the 20th May 2016) about 490 kms west-southwest of Chittagong port, 480 kms west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 295 kms southwest of Mongla port and 325 kms southwest of Payra port. It is likely to move in east-northeasterly direction and may cross Barisal-Chittagong coast by morning/noon of 21st may 2016”, the bulletin said.
Weather official Abdul Mannan told bdnews24.com in the evening that the cyclone was covering 30-35 km per hour.
Met Office Director Masum Ahmed told bdnews24.com that as an effect of the cyclone parts of the country had begun to receive rain since Friday morning.
He also clarified that the warning signals from 5 to 7 meant the same thing.
The different numbers were merely indicative of the direction of approach of the oncoming cyclone and all of these denote that the port is about to be hit by a cyclone.
Authorities in Bangladesh however, unwilling to take chances, have already shifted about 2.5 million people to safer shelters while disaster management teams are on the standby to deal with any adverse situation.
The bulletin like previous ones, continued to advise fishermen not to venture deep into sea until further notice.
>> 2.15 million people from 18 districts have been provided with safer refuge in 3185 camps.
>> The weekend holiday for officials in the districts that are likely to be affected have been cancelled to deal with any eventuality.
>> Ansar and VDP, Cyclone Preparedness Programme committees, Red Crescent Society and other agencies are working in tandem at the Upazilla and Union levels.
>> All personnel of disaster response teams have been asked to remain present at their designated offices to distribute relief material if needed.
>> Divisional Commissioners of regions in danger have been asked to keep dry food and potable water ready.
>> Weather.com says that the Roanu may not have the intensity to cause any major devastation but it could produce heavy rainfall in Bangladesh and adjoining India and Myanmar, leading to landslides.
>> A maximum sustained wind-speed of up to 97kmph and gusty winds up to 121 kmph can be expected near the centre of the cyclone.
>> According to international yardsticks, a cyclone of that speed is categorised as a Type-2 cyclone.
>> On April 29, 1991, a cyclone having wind speeds up to 250kmph had left Chittagong devastated.
>> Orissa and Andhra regions of India reported heavy rains while extensive landslides were reported from Sri Lanka due to the cyclone buildup
>> Constant drizzle was reported from various remote parts of the country while a landslide and water level surge warning has been sounded across the country.
The Mongla and Chittagong docks have been closed due to bad weather. Although the airport at Chittagong remains operational, all precautionary measures are in place. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has suspended operation of all boats and steamers due to the hostile weather condition.