Cyclone 'Reshmi' crosses southwestern coast
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Cyclone 'Reshmi' swept over the country's southwestern coastal belt early Monday, leaving at least nine people dead, hundreds missing, and many houses and crops on vast tracts of land damaged, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
Three people were killed in Patuakhali, while two each in Barisal, Chandpur and Bhola districts during the late-night scourge over the coast.
The cyclone ripped through different upazilas of Bhola, Barisal, Pirojpur, Patuakhali and Chandpur districts and adjoining areas from nearly 3:00am to 5:30am.
These areas suffered damage to houses and crops, launch movements were halted on inland routes and thousands of people took shelter in cyclone shelters during the night as the storm neared the coast.
Moving northeast, Rashmi weakened into a land depression over Faridpur, Madaripur, Chandpur, Dhaka and adjoining areas, heading further inland, the weather office said in a special bulletin.
"It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further inland and weaken gradually. Steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay. Squally weather may continue to affect the maritime ports," it said.
Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal-3. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Earlier, the storm front began crossing the coast near Patharghata, with wind speeds of 60-80km/h, in the early hours of Monday.
In Bagerhat, 'Reshmi' damaged over 500 thatched houses and capsised 15 fishing trawlers with 150 fishermen in the Bay. Of them, over 100 managed to swim ashore, while the rest went missing. Power remained cut-off since Sunday midnight as a number of trees and their branches crashed on the electric lines.
In Patuakhali, at least 11 people, including nine fishermen, were missing and around 5,000 thatched houses were damaged by the cyclonic storm.
District control room sources said the cyclone damaged standing crops in 7,500 acres of land, 4,906 thatched houses and 50 fish enclosures.
Cross-dam was damaged at four points in Kolapara and one point in Golachipa. Many people have been marooned in the char areas for the sudden flooding by tidal water.
Three people were killed in Patuakhali, while two each in Barisal, Chandpur and Bhola districts during the late-night scourge over the coast.
The cyclone ripped through different upazilas of Bhola, Barisal, Pirojpur, Patuakhali and Chandpur districts and adjoining areas from nearly 3:00am to 5:30am.
These areas suffered damage to houses and crops, launch movements were halted on inland routes and thousands of people took shelter in cyclone shelters during the night as the storm neared the coast.
Moving northeast, Rashmi weakened into a land depression over Faridpur, Madaripur, Chandpur, Dhaka and adjoining areas, heading further inland, the weather office said in a special bulletin.
"It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further inland and weaken gradually. Steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay. Squally weather may continue to affect the maritime ports," it said.
Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal-3. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Earlier, the storm front began crossing the coast near Patharghata, with wind speeds of 60-80km/h, in the early hours of Monday.
In Bagerhat, 'Reshmi' damaged over 500 thatched houses and capsised 15 fishing trawlers with 150 fishermen in the Bay. Of them, over 100 managed to swim ashore, while the rest went missing. Power remained cut-off since Sunday midnight as a number of trees and their branches crashed on the electric lines.
In Patuakhali, at least 11 people, including nine fishermen, were missing and around 5,000 thatched houses were damaged by the cyclonic storm.
District control room sources said the cyclone damaged standing crops in 7,500 acres of land, 4,906 thatched houses and 50 fish enclosures.
Cross-dam was damaged at four points in Kolapara and one point in Golachipa. Many people have been marooned in the char areas for the sudden flooding by tidal water.