Cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ is likely to hit the country between late Tuesday night and Wednesday evening, bringing with it chances of extensive damage from high winds, heavy rain and tidal surge.
The severe cyclonic storm may cross the Bangladesh coast, between Khulna-Chattogram, according to the latest special weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the storm centre is about 110kph rising to 130kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre, the bulletin said.
According to meteorologists, if the cyclone turns into a super cyclone, the wind speed of the cyclone will be 220 to 265 kilometers per hour. However, as it gets closer to the coast, it can take the form of a strong cyclone. Then this wind speed may decrease a bit.
Maritime ports of Mongla, Payra have been advised to hoist danger signal number seven and maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar danger signal number six.
The threat of such a cyclone is looming at the time Bangladesh is struggling to cope with the Coronavirus epidemic. The full potential of disaster management is fighting to control the epidemic. In this situation, it is a big challenge for the authorities to evacuate people in coastal areas maintaining social distancing and hygiene given the limited resources.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Sunday said the government has taken necessary preparations to face cyclone ‘Amphan.’ The state minister said the district administrations have already been directed to take necessary steps to increase the number of shelters so that people could maintain safe distance in them.
More allocations will be made as per the demand of deputy commissioners, Enamur said adding that they have been instructed to make alternative arrangements if there is no electricity during the disaster.
Samsuddin Ahmed, director of the Meteorological Department, said there was a strong chance the cyclone Amphan would hit. Previous experience has shown that such storms can cause significant damage. It can damage houses, trees, communication and also disrupt power.
A meeting has already been held between various ministries, deputy commissioners of coastal districts, Red Crescent Society, Bangladesh Scouts and CPC to prepare for the storm, said Shah Kamal, senior secretary at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
He said the first thing that comes to mind during a cyclone is to keep the cyclone shelters ready. This time, as the social distance has to be maintained due to Covid-19, other educational institutions in the area will also be kept ready. Arrangements will be made to keep people in shelters in compliance with health rules. Arrangements will be made for each family member to stay together.
"About 21 lakh people can be accommodated in 5,000 government shelter centers. Besides, we have arranged temporary shelter centers in all the educational institutions of the concerned area. As a result, there will be no problem in keeping everyone in the shelters ensuring social distance,” he said.
The government will start taking residents of low-lying and risky places in the coastal areas to shelter centers from Tuesday afternoon. Pregnant women, women, the disabled and children will be taken to the shelter on a priority basis. Then others will be taken. Men will be taken after Iftar. The government will provide them with the necessary food.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the storm centre is about 110kph rising to 130kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre, the bulletin said.
According to meteorologists, if the cyclone turns into a super cyclone, the wind speed of the cyclone will be 220 to 265 kilometers per hour. However, as it gets closer to the coast, it can take the form of a strong cyclone. Then this wind speed may decrease a bit.
All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice, so that they can take shelter within a short notice. They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a warning that "very severe cyclonic storm" Amphan (pronounced as UM-PUN) has intensified into "extremely severe cyclonic storm" and will likely move to north-northeast wards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon or evening of May 20.
Amphan, which is in the category of a very severe cyclonic storm, is most likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm by Monday evening attaining a maximum wind speed of 170 to 180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.
Mohammad Abdul Wazed, former director general of the Disaster Management Department, said maintaining social distance and adhering to hygiene rules will be a major challenge in cyclone shelter at this time.
"It will be a little harder to stay at a safe distance. It will be more difficult for women. Because, there is a possibility of overcrowding. If the Coronavirus is infected or spread in any way by coming to the shelter, the number of infections in that area will increase a lot. It is also a risk."
Wazed also said reaching relief and rehabilitating people in the aftermath of the cyclone will also bring new challenges.
There are two types of damage caused by cyclones. One is loss of life. Another is the loss of houses and livestock. The number of deaths in Bangladesh has now decreased.
The Bhola cyclone of 1970 killed about 500,000 people. On April 29, 1991, 1 lakh 38 thousand people died in the cyclone. Another cyclone of almost the same type was Shidor in 2007. The human mortality rate there was relatively low. The cyclone killed 3,406 people.
Since then there have been several more cyclones in Bangladesh. On May 25, 2009, some 190 people died from Ayla's injuries. In 2013, 18 people died in Mahasen. Since then, the number of deaths in the country has never exceeded 25.
