Disaster Management and Relief minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali expressed satisfaction on preparations taken ahead of cyclone ‘Mahasen’ and said it had helped cut down risk of a disaster.
Cyclone advisory released
As cyclone Mahasen is heading towards Bangladesh, the government on Wednesday circulated a list of dos and don’ts for the people.
Published : 15 May 2013, 06:15 AM
Updated : 15 May 2013, 09:59 AM
The Meteorological Department has asked Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar ports to hoist danger signal no 7 as the cyclone is hovering 700 kilometres off the coast.
Mahasen’ has shifted slightly towards the north-north east according to a special forecast. The cyclone may sweep over Khepupara-Teknaf Coast near Chittagong at dawn on Thursday.
The elderly, handicapped, children and pregnant women will have to be moved to shelters within moments of receiving a cautionary signal. Alternative routes towards the shelter should also be cleared beforehand, according to a circular released on Wednesday.
The circular advised people to gather torchlight, matchboxes, candles, dry food and drinking water before getting to the shelter. A primary medical kit should also be prepared, if possible.
Authorities have strictly instructed the people to not leave the shelter until the cyclone passes completely.
It also asked people to remain updated on the news of the approaching disaster through television, radio or any other medium.
Waters from ponds and rivers can be used for drinking if there is a shortage of drinking water after the possible disaster. Rainwater can also be collected in large containers for drinking.
It is also useful to learn how to purify water and food items during times of scarcity, said the circular.
All necessary items like rice, pulses, matchboxes, dry wood, bars of alum (hydrated potassium aluminum sulphate), sugar, medicine, gauze, cotton, oral saline should be tightly packed inside a water-proof bag and buried under ground.
Important documents and money, coins should also be wrapped in plastic and buried underground.
Different kinds of grain seeds can also be preserved.
People have been advised to tie several bundles of rope with a strong tree trunk. One can tie themselves with this rope or hold on to them during cyclone surge.
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