People of South Bedkashi Golkhali under Koyra of Khulna repairing on Saturday the Paikgacha-Koyra embankment, damaged by the cyclone Fani, to protect the area from flooding — Focus Bangla Nine people were killed and more than 60 others injured as the cyclone Fani crossed over Bangladesh on Saturday, disrupting communication and damaging houses and Boro crops, officials said.
After striking southeastern coastal belt of India, the tropical storm weakened and hit Bangladesh territory in the early morning and moved towards Indian state of Assam.
As the cyclone turned into a depression in the north, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) lowered all the danger signals in the coastal regions.
Following the strike of the cyclone, State Minister for Disaster Management Enamur Rahman in a briefing at the Secretariat earlier said the storm had left at least four people dead and over 60 others injured in Bangladesh.
About various precautionary measures, he said those helped reduce the extent of damage from the cyclone. "At least 1.6 million people who were taken to the shelter centres can return home by this (Saturday) afternoon," he said.
The deaths were reported from Barguna, Noakhali and Laxmipur districts, according to the government disclosure.
When contacted, BMD director Shamsuddin Ahmed said Fani had lost its strength and turned into a depression in the north.
"Now, there is no danger. That's why we lowered the danger signals," he said.
A man trying to salvage his belongings after Cyclone Fani damaged the house at Saikat Palli in Patenga embankment area on Saturday — Focus Bangla
Until filing this report at about 7:45pm, Bangladesh lowered all its danger signals along the coast and instead hoisted the cautionary signal number 3 in Chattogram, Mongla, Payra and Cox's Bazar.
Though the cyclonic storm weakened while striking Bangladesh territory, it damaged houses, livestock and Boro crops, especially rice set to be harvested.
Talking to the FE, Agriculture Information Service (AIS) spokesperson Mohammad Golam Mawla said that the storm caused severe losses to near-to-harvest Boro crops in Bhola, Noakhali, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Barguna, Laxmipur and Satkhira districts.
He predicted that Boro crops and summer vegetables cultivated on 40,000 hectares of land might have been affected by heavy rain and inundation caused by the storm.
He said they primarily found more than 500 hectares of land totally damaged due to overflow of water at in the costal districts.
He said the official figure on the crops damaged by the cyclone would be ascertained within a day.
Asked, he said mango orchards in Rajshahi region remained unaffected as the cyclone became tame while hitting the region.
Referring to initial data, sources at the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC) said that 2,243 houses were completely damaged and 11,172 others partially damaged.
At the same time, it caused severe disruption to both traffic and river transport.
According to sources at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), all kinds of commercial vessels remained anchored since early Friday and the services were expected to resume this (Sunday) morning.
Several international and domestic flights were cancelled due to the cyclone from Friday while some made delayed takeoff, according to airliners and airport sources.
However, heavy rainfall under the impact of the cyclonic storm continued in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country, affecting the normal life.
The BMD recorded a 60mm (millimeter) rainfall in Dhaka between Friday 9.00 am to Saturday 9.00 am. The highest rainfall of 127 mm was recorded in Chandpur district during the period.
BMD assistant director Sadequl Alam said heavy rainfall was also likely to occur in Dhaka for next 24 hours starting from 6.00pm on Saturday due to the influence of the cyclonic storm.
The BMD office, however, forecast rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind at most places of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with heavy to very heavy rainfalls in next twenty four hours.
Though the rain, caused by the storm, brought some relief to the dwellers who were suffering badly from scorching heat, it also caused trouble for many in the morning due to traffic congestions and lack of vehicles in Dhaka city.
Because of the rainfall, many streets and places went under water as at places like Kalsi, a part of Mirpur, Adabor, Rayerbazar, Demra, Jurain and other places in old Dhaka.
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