Cyclone Remal which battered Bangladesh’s coastal area on Sunday claimed at least16 lives, according to the National Disaster Response Co-Ordination Centre (NDRCC) under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief
The deaths were reported in Khulna, Satkhira, Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Chattogram and Pirojpur districts, said NDRCC said in its daily bulletin.
Among the deceased, four died in Pirojpur, three each in Bhola, Barishal and Patuakhali and one each in Satkhira, Khulna and Chattogram districts.
Besides, about 2.75 lakh houses have been destroyed in the coastal and its adjacent 19 districts, it said.
Of these, 40,338 houses were completely destroyed and 1,33,528 houses were partially damaged.
Khulna district witnessed highest number of damaged houses as a total of 20,762 houses were totally destroyed while in Bagerhat the number is 10,000.
Besides, nearly 46 lakh people have affected by the cyclonic storm.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman on Monday said 1,50,457 houses were damaged during the storm.
Of these, 35,483 houses were fully damaged in 107 unions and 914 municipalities, said the state minister.
Remal causes losses over Tk 900cr in fisheries, livestock sectors BSS, Dhaka. The severe cyclonic storm “Remal” has caused a huge economic loss of over Taka 900 crore to the fisheries and livestock sectors across the country, according to an official report in Dhaka.
In the latest report compiled by the Department of Fisheries and Livestock Sector, a huge economic loss of Taka 906.63 crore was caused in the fisheries and livestock sectors due to the devastative cyclone “Remal” in most of the coastal districts in the country at the beginning of this week.
Due to the severe cyclone, 15 people were killed, and about 800,000 people in coastal areas were forced to leave their homesteads and seek shelter. The wind speeds at the time of the main impact were between 90 and 120 kilometers per hour, along with a high tide up to 10 feet that broke the embankment and submerged a vast area of the coast, which resulted in damage to houses, crops, and livestock, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management.
Fisheries, livestock sectors suffer Tk 900cr lose:
Trail of devastation in Sundarbans
According to the fisheries department, the severe cyclonic storm Remal caused a financial loss of Taka 858 crore, or 67 lakh and 28 thousand, to the fisheries sector, which includes the inundation of ponds, enclosures, hatcheries, fisheries, shrimp, fish fries, and crabs due to heavy rain, floods, and tidal surges at eighty-eight upazilas of sixteen coastal districts under the Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram, and Dhaka divisions.
The cyclone affected fisheries of over 20,523 metric tons, shrimp of over 7,943 metric tons, fish fries of over 1627 metric tons, crab or Kuchia of over 253 metric tons, and post-larva (PL) of over 590 lakh in eighteen districts under Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram, and Dhaka divisions.
The infrastructural loss of the fisheries sector was over Taka 61.59 crore at 468 unions of eighty-eight upazilas under the four divisions, said the report.
The estimated loss of the fisheries was over Taka 330.76 crore, shrimp of over 339.29 crore, fish fries of over Taka 98.62 crore, crabs or kuchia of over Taka 22.09 crore, and post larva of over 14.73 crore. The cyclone affected 663 trawlers and boats at a cost of 2.67 crore and damaged fishing nets worth over Taka 1.73 crore.
Division-wise economic loss calculated that the financial loss of the fisheries sector in Khulna division was over Taka 722 crore, over Taka 98.44 crore was in Barishal division, over Taka 18.72 crore was in Chattogram division, and over Taka 19.33 crore financial loss took place in Dhaka division, the report displayed.
In addition to this, the estimated loss of the livestock and poultry sector was Taka 47 crore (97 lakh), which includes damages to livestock farms, live cattle, and poultry farms under the three coastal divisions of Barishal, Khulna and Chattogram.
Remal leaves trail of devastation in Sundarbans
BSS in Khulna reports: Severe cyclone Remal that hit the coastal belts of the country on Sunday with winds reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometers put its trail of devastation in the mangrove forests as numerous infrastructures and trees have been damaged, apart from leaving 40 deer dead.
“Since Sunday afternoon, cyclone Remal’s rampage and tidal waves have caused significant damage to the wildlife of the Sundarbans,” said Mihir Kumar Doe, conservator of the Forest of Khulna Circle.
The violent storm destroyed massive infrastructure, a good number of trawlers, and numerous trees, washed away water basins, intruded saline water into over 80 sweet water ponds; and destroyed the abode of the wild animals.
“Carcasses of 40 deer and one boar were recovered, so far, 17 deer were set free to the forest after treatment, over 70 jetties, 25 forest outposts, and trees were destroyed,” Mihir added.
He said that forest employees, bawalies, fishermen, and wildlife are now facing a scarcity of sweet drinking water as saline water intruded into ponds.
Mihir warned that, besides the deer, more wild animals might have died, and forest guards are actively searching for these animals.
The cyclone has also damaged various infrastructures at the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding and Tourism Center in the East Sundarbans.
“In addition to the loss of trees, various forest department offices, patrol boats, solar panels, and infrastructure have been extensively damaged,” he said.
The jetty in the Katka Sanctuary has been washed away into the Bay of Bengal by the tide. Tin sheds of infrastructure, including kitchens of 25 patrol posts and various forest offices in Dubla, Katka, Kochikhali, and Bogi, were blown away by the strong winds, he added.
Hawladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of the East Sundarbans Karamjal Wildlife and Breeding Centre, said that the wooden poles for tourist traffic were damaged by Cyclone Remal, and many trees were broken.
“We are yet to ascertain the entire loss caused by the cyclonic storm,” he added.
Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam, chairman of the Save the Sundarbans Foundation, emphasized the importance of maintaining sufficient high hills and shelters for the wild animals of the Sundarbans.
The banks of freshwater ponds should be raised to prevent floodwater from entering, he opined.
Talking to BSS, KaziMdNurul Karim, Divisional Forest Officer of East Sundarban, told BSS that forest officials are working to assess the damage to forest resources and wildlife caused by the cyclone.
