Residents are in panic as incessant rains battering the Khulna region early Monday due to the cyclonic storm Sitrang have damaged parts of embankments in Khulna's coastal regions.
Most of the people remained sleepless overnight due to the risk of breaching flood protection embankment at Koyra and several other places of Shyamnagar upazila. Fears have it that storm surges could damage fisheries and croplands.
At Koyra, a flood protection embankment developed cracks at Harinkhola and Ghatirgheri on Monday. If emergency steps are not taken the crops and houses will be inundated with saline water, said Khulna Koyra Upazila Parishad Chairman SM Shafiqul Islam.
Koyra Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Roknuzzaman said 1,500 volunteers are ready while shelters have also been prepared as a precautionary measure.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Moniruzzaman Talukder said that all the upazila nirbahi officers have been instructed to take urgent action in the overall situation.
Cyclone Sitrang is likely to hit 19 coastal districts including Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat early Tuesday.
Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist danger signal No 7, warned Bangladesh Meteorological Department in their latest bulletin on Monday morning.
The coastal district of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and three others offshore islands will also come under danger signal 7.
Besides, the riverports of these districts have been advised to hoist danger signal 3.
