200 tourists stranded at St Martin's

Stoppage of marine traffic prompted by inclement weather has stranded more than 200 tourists at the St Martin's coral island in the Bay. However, all the tourists are reportedly in safe shelter of the local hotels. St Martin's union parishad Chairman Nur Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune despite cancellation of the marine traffic, about 300 tourists had visited the island over the last three days. About 100 of them have managed to return to the mainland by various irregular vessels and more than 200 still remain stranded in the island. Teknaf upazila administration has suspended all types of shipping for the rough weather in the coastal area. Chittagong Mongla, Payra sea ports have been asked to hoist cautionary signal No. 3 and rain it has been raining in regular intervals since the morning today, according to Cox's Bazar met office. Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Abdur Rahman said they had been monitoring the situation round the clock. If the weather permits, the stranded tourists would be able to return to the mainland by Sunday, he added.