Bangladesh on Monday braced for the arrival of severe cyclonic storm Sitrang by taking several precautionary measures, especially in the country's coastal districts.
The front of the cyclone hit Bangladesh on Monday, with the centre expected to make landfall near Barisal around 7am on Tuesday, according to the Met Office.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Monday said a total of 7,030 cyclone shelters had been prepared in 15 coastal districts. The shelters can accommodate a total of around 2.5 million people.
“In each of these districts, we have allocated Tk5 lakh and supplied daily essentials such as rice and lentils so that people can eat cooked food. Besides, dry food like biscuits has also been made available so that people will not go hungry,” he added during a press briefing at the Secretariat.
The state minister also said the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society were ready to conduct rescue operations.
“The Met office has hoisted danger signal 7 in various coastal districts, including Bagerhat, which may go up to signal 10. We'll ensure the safety of people and their cattle, but we can't assure that the agricultural and fisheries resources will remain unaffected,” he said.
Bangladesh will use all secondary schools and colleges as temporary shelters in Cyclone Sitrang hit areas. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Monday directed the authorities concerned to take appropriate measures.
Control rooms were opened in several districts to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
Around 28,155 people and 2,736 cattle had been evacuated from the Cox's Bazar coast and moved to cyclone shelters till 6pm on Monday.
116 medical teams, 5,280 volunteers ready in Khulna
Around 116 medical teams, 5,280 volunteers and 548 shelters have been prepared to face Sitrang in Khulna.
This information was revealed in a preparatory meeting of the Khulna District Disaster Management Committee that took place Monday afternoon.
“Announcements through loudspeakers about the cyclone have already been made in all coastal areas. Everyone should be taken to a safe place as soon as possible,” said Deputy Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Talukder.
“The departments concerned of the government should be prepared to keep telephone, electricity and road communication uninterrupted during the disaster. More attention needs to be paid to Koira, Dakop and Paikgacha upazilas of Khulna,” he added.
Five medical teams will be deployed in each upazila, and one in each union. Doctors, nurses, medicines and ambulances have been kept ready to provide around-the-clock services.
“5,280 CPP volunteers have been on high alert to assist the general people during calamities,” he said.
“Saline water treatment plants from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief have been kept ready, each of which can supply clean drinking water to 4,000 people,” he added.
PM Hasina directly monitoring developments, monitoring cell opened
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is monitoring developments centering around Cyclone Sitrang around-the-clock and issuing necessary instructions to government officials in order to minimize the loss of lives and properties.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving various directives to different ministries, directorates and other government offices around the clock,” PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB.
The press secretary said that the PM is also collecting information from the field level.
“She also gave necessary instructions to the central Awami League leaders regarding this matter,” he said.
He said that the prime minister is also communicating with local leaders, including MPs and other public representatives, of her party to get information quickly and giving necessary directives.
A monitoring cell, PM's Disaster Management Coordination and Relief Monitoring Cell, has opened at the Prime Minister Office that will work for 24 hours a day as per the instruction of the premier.
All are requested to communicate with the Cell through its hotline numbers. These are: 01769010986, 02-55029550 and 02-58153022. The fax number is 02-9102469.
A total of 32 officers and staff of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief have been engaged to share information about the cyclone's path and effects. They will perform their duties till 12 noon on October 26, said a notice issued on Monday.
Power supply disrupted in Pirojpur, Madaripur
Power supply was disrupted in different areas in Pirojpur and Madaripur districts due to the approach of Cyclone Sitrang, which has triggered torrential rains in the coastal area of the country.
“'We have received information of power supply disruption in Pirojpur and Madaripur. Our engineers are trying to fix them,” Azharul Islam, managing director of the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL), told UNB.
He also informed that five coastal districts - Barisal, Bhola, Barguna, Satkhira and Pirojpur - out of a total of 21 districts under the WZPDC power distribution network are now taking preparations to face the cyclone.
“We've readied our teams with the necessary equipment to immediately reach the spot if any disruption occurs,” he added.
"We don't have any scheduled load shedding, but disruption by cyclonic winds in 11kV feeder lines causes blackouts in many places,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials of both Dhaka Electricity Supply Company Limited (Desco) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) said that they have no load shedding schedule in any area as electricity demand is much lower and there is no demand and supply gap.
“We're now receiving 750MW against the same demand while normally demand stays at 1,050MW in other days and we need to resort to about 300MW load shedding,” said Md Kausar Ameer Ali, managing director of Desco.
NU exams postponed
All examinations of National University scheduled to be held today have been postponed due to cyclonic storm Sitrang.
“All examinations scheduled to be held on October 25 under National University have been postponed,” reads a circular issued yesterday.
However, other previously announced dates and schedules will remain unchanged.
Three airports to remain closed over cyclone Sitrang
Three airports, including two international and one domestic, will remain closed due to the heavy rainfall and upcoming cyclone Sitrang.
The airports are Shah Amanat International Airport, Cox's Bazar Airport and Barisal airport.
The airports are expected to open at 12pm today, said a NOTAB issued by the airport apex body Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Monday.
Telecom network impacted
Mobile phone networks in different coastal areas were affected due to a lack of electricity as a result of the approaching storm.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), in a notice, asked mobile phone operators, tower-company operators, Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network operators (NTTN), Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), and International Internet Gateway Association, Bangladesh (IIGAB), to ensure proper service in coastal regions.
The telecommunication operators and internet service providers were asked to arrange portable generators and take other emergency measures to provide uninterrupted and quality service in cyclone hit regions.