Cyclone ‘Bulbul’ starts crossing Bangladesh coast

Very severe cyclonic storm “Bulbul” weakened into a severe one and started crossing coastal areas of Khulna division in Bangladesh tonight amid low tide, according to Met office.

Mahmudur Hasan, divisional forest officer, Sundarban East, said eye of the cyclone started crossing the Bangladesh coast at around 12:00am with low tide in the Bay of Bengal. 

In the special weather bulletin issued at around 11:00pm, the met office said the very severe cyclonic storm, weakened into a severe one started moving northeastwards at a speed of about 8 kph and started crossing West Bengal-Khulna coast near Sundarbans at about 9:00pm.

It is likely to weaken gradually and may complete crossing West Bengal-Khulna coast by midnight.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the severe cyclone centre is about 100 kph rising to 120 kph in gusts/squalls. Sea will remain very high near the severe cyclone centre.

Cyclone Bulbul hit India this evening, leaving two dead as authorities in the country and in neighbouring Bangladesh ordered hundreds of thousands of people to get out of the path of the storm as it gained power, reports AFP.

One person was killed by an uprooted tree in Kolkata and another by a wall that collapsed under the force of the winds in Odisha state, authorities said.

Meanwhile, five men got injured at Lalmohon, char Harding by the hit of Bulbul. They all were admitted to Charfashion hospital, reports our correspondent, quoting, Shamsul Arefin, Officer-in-Charge of Char Fashion upazila.

At least 14 houses were also damaged in the upazila, sources at the Fire Service and Civil Defense, he said.

The government has taken measures to face “Bulbul”. Cyclone shelters have been opened in the coastal regions and holidays of government staff in 13 coastal districts have been cancelled.

Launch services were suspended on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Navy said it has kept five ships ready at Khulna BNS Titumir for emergency relief and rescue operations in Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, and Barguna

According to Met office, Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no ten. Coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore Islands and chars will come under great danger signal number ten.

Maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no nine. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal number nine.

Maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number four.

The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed to 80-100 kph in gusts or  squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “bulbul” and the Moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.