Cyclone Komen: 6 killed, 6 missing in 4 dists

At least six people were killed and six others went missing as strong wind and heavy rains have been sweeping four districts under the influence of cyclone ‘Komen’ since early Thursday. Met office says cyclonic storm 'Komen' over Northeast Bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast has remained practically stationary and it is likely to move in a northerly direction and may cross Chittagong coast by Thursday evening or night. In Bhola, a woman was killed as a tree collapsed on her at Char Kochuakhali village in coastal Lalmohan upazila early in the morning. The dead is Monzuma Begum, 55, wife of Sobahan Mollah, a resident of the village. In Cox's Bazar, a middle-aged man was killed as a tree collapsed on him during storm and heavy rain in Saint Martin’s Island under Teknaf upazila at about 3:30am. The dead is Mohammad Islam, 50, a resident of St Martin's union. In Patuakhali, one Nurul Islam Fakir, 55, was killed as an uprooted tree fell on him during severe storm and heavy rainfall in Galachipa upazila in the morning. At least fifty per cent houses in St Martin’s union were damaged or partly damaged due to strong wind. All communications with the island were cut off after 4:00am. In Brahmanbaria, three persons were killed and at least six others reportedly went missing as a boat capsized in Chetra River at Sorail upazila amid strong wind and rainfall. Sarail administration chief Muhammad Emran Hossain said the boat caught in the storm and capsized around 10.30am. The dead are Abdul Kahar, 50, and Fatima Begum, 45, and her two-year-old daughter Shefali Akhter. Identities of the missings could not be known. Three bodies were recovered after the accident. Many passengers managed to swim to safety, the UNO said, adding but at least six were missing.
Meanwhile, the authorities have suspended flight services at Cox’s Bazar Airport till the situation comes to normal, said Acting Deputy Commissioner Anupom Saha after presiding over an emergency meeting. He said the educational institutions of the district were also announced closed at the meeting as the schools would be used as cyclone shelters. On the other hand, the Chittagong district administration has taken up massive preparation programmes to cope with any eventuality of the cyclonic storm. The administration sat at an emergency meeting on Thursday morning and decided to take up brisk preparations comprising all public utility departments and agencies concerned. The meeting, chaired by acting Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sha Reaz decided to keep standby medical teams, reaching relief materials including drinking water and dry food to all shelter centres during pre and post cyclone situation. Around 61,000 people of the coastal upazilas including Sandwip , Banskhali, Anowara, Sitakunda and Mirsari have already taken shelter in 239 shelter centres in Chittagong district. One hundred medical teams with 5,000 health workers, adequate number of volunteers of the Red Crescent Society have been kept ready and district administration is monitoring round the clock in this regard. The activities in Chittagong Port mostly cargo handling remained suspended as part of the disaster preparedness programme. All vessels were taken to safer places while lighter vessels were kept near Karnaphuli bridge to avoid any accident. Chittagong city corporation has opened several control rooms to monitor the post and pre cyclonic situation.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transports Authority (BIWTA) in a press release said it has shut the plying of vessels in all river routes across the country since Wednesday night. Ferry services run by the Roads and Highways Division in coastal districts have also been halted till further notice. River port authorities in Dhaka, Chandpur, Munshiganj and Manikganj have shut operations of all small vessels, including launches. Ports in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar are under danger signal 7 while signal 5 has been hoisted in Mongla and Payra posts since Wednesday night. A Met office bulletin said ‘Komen’ is likely to move northeast, crossing the Chittagong coast by Thursday night.

- mbz