AMN
Bangladesh is bracing to deal with the impact of Cyclone Mocha as it is set to intensify into a Super Cyclonic Storm by midnight on Thursday. Local media reports that people in the coastal areas of Bagerhat, Baleshwar and Pashur in Mongla among others passed an anxious night fearing the hightide caused by the cyclone which is likely to cross Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh on Sunday, May 14.
The Indian Met Department in its latest Cyclone advisory no. 2 issued at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday said that the Cyclone Mocha lay centred over southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) about 1190 kms south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. The IMD predicts that it will gradually intensify into a severe cyclonic storm around 12 noon on Thursday. It is likely to cross the Southeast Bangladesh and North Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu close to Sittwe in Myanmar around 12 noon on 14th May with a sustained wind speed of 140-150 kmph.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has asked the maritime ports of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Mongla and Payra to keep hoisted the distant cautionary signal number 2.
The Government of Bangladesh has prepared 446 cyclone shelters in Bagerhat district. In Cox’s Bazar also cyclone shelters have been kept ready. Relief materials have been provided to the district administration by the government for any requirement at the cyclone shelters.
Farmers have almost completely harvested their boro paddy in anticipation of the cyclone. The authorities are repairing the dams at their weak points in the district. State Minister for Disaster Management Enamur Rahman said that like previous years, the government has put the army, navy and coast guard on alert to deal with any situation arising due to the cyclone.