At least eight people were killed in Bangladesh coasts as cyclone Bulbul described earlier as a ‘very serious storm’ made its landfall in Bangladesh with weakened force after raving adjacent Indian coastlines. Disaster management ministry confirmed eight deaths in six districts after the predawn landfall of the storm in Bangladesh coasts after more than two million people were forced to take refuge in makeshift shelters overnight.
“Eight people were killed in different coastal districts as cyclone ‘Bulbul’ lashed Bangladesh coastlines early today . . . most of them were victims of collapse of houses and tree falls, “disaster management secretary Md Shah Kamal told BSS. He said among the victims, two were killed in Khulna, two in Bagerhat, one in Pirojpur, one Barishal, one in Patuakhali and one in Bagerhat.
“Cyclone “Bulbul” gradually became weak but it caused heavy rainfall in the coastal districts . . . now the tropical cyclone has turned into deep depression,” met office spokesman Ruhul Quddus told BSS Sunday afternoon. “Bulbul now is lying on southern region in the country particularly in Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi,” he added.
“Under its influence these coastal districts are witnessing heavy rainfall and we are predicting that weather may be normal in the southern parts of Bangladesh. But in the Chattogram region, it will take one more day to become weather condition normal,” the meteorologists added.
Under the influence of the deep depression, Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Faridpur, Madaripur and Cumilla experienced wind of 50-60 kph in gusts squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the deep depression.
“As part of the immediate response for the first time in the country’s history, more than 21.6 lakh people were successfully evacuated and moved to 5,587 cyclone shelters in coastal districts as the cyclone hit the region,” State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman told at a press briefing on Sunday.
“Around four to five thousand houses were damaged partially and completely as ‘Bulbul’ lashed the country’s coastlines early today”, he said. Disaster management secretary said they initially planned to move 14 lakh people to 5,000 cyclone shelters but by Saturday midnight the figure rose to over 21 lakh. “People, who took shelters at cyclone centres and other safer places, now are returning home as there is no possibility of any disaster caused by the cyclone,” he said.
