Cyclone Roanu weakens into land depression

After making landfall in Bangladesh's Barisal-Khulna-Chittagong coastal region, the cyclonic storm Roanu has weakened and turned into a land depression,    

"Now it is lying in Feni, Khagrachhari, Sitakunda [of Chittagong] area and Indian state of Tripura," Muhammad Mohiuddin, an observer at the Dhaka Met Office, told The Daily Star at 7:45pm. 

As the storm weakened, the cautionary signal was lowered to 3 at all the Maritime ports.

While crossing the coastline, the storm had a speed of 60-80 kilometre per hour while heading east-northeastwards, he said, adding that the rainfall will continue there for next 24 hours due to impact of the cyclone.

Most places of the country witness rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind since early morning.

At least 20 people were killed, 100 injured and four went missing in Chittagong, Bhola, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali and Patuakhali districts as Cyclone Roanu made its impact across the country.

Goods handling remains suspended at Chittagong port

According to the 9:00am bulletin, the storm over Northwest Bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast moved east-northeastward and lies over northeast Bay and adjoining northwest Bay and adjoining coastal areas.

Ctg airport suspends all flight operations

Very to very heavy falls may occur at places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, it added.

Sea water overflowing beri badh at Patenga sea beach as Cyclone Roanu made landfall. Photo: STAR/ Anurup Kanti Das

The government has taken all the preparations for a possible cyclone impact, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said.

“We have taken all the preparations to face the situation Roanu might cause,” he briefed reporters at Disaster Management Department today.

The Met Office has issued cautionary signal-7 for Chittagong, Mongla and Payra ports, which means the port will experience severe weather. Maritime port the Cox's Bazar was asked to hoist cautionary signal-6.

Offshore islands and chars were likely to be inundated by storm surge of four to five feet high, Shamsuddin Ahmed, director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told The Daily Star yesterday.