People of 10 coastal districts asked to move to shelters by 8:00pm

The government has asked people of 10 vulnerable coastal districts to move to shelters by 8:00pm today as severe cyclonic storm Hamoon is likely to cross Bangladesh between tonight and tomorrow morning.

State Minister for Disaster and Relief Management Dr Eanmur Rahman told this to reporters after a meeting on cyclone preparedness at the secretariat today.

The 10 vulnerable districts are Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Chandpur.

Medical teams have been formed and a huge quantity of emergency medicines and medical accessories have been kept ready, he said.

Enamur said the cyclone may make landfall in the coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Lakshmipur, Barguna and Barishal between 10:00pm today to 10:00am tomorrow.

Asked how many shelters were kept prepared in the 10 districts, he said that he is to yet receive information about the figure.

The deep depression over west-central Bay and adjoining area has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm "Hamoon".

According to a special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the severe cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' now lies over northwest Bay and adjoining area and was centred at noon about 330 km west-southwest of Chattogram port, 295 km west-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 250 km southwest of Mongla port, and 215 km southwest of Payra port.

It is likely to move north-northeastwards and may cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Meghan estuary by late night to morning as a cyclonic storm, it reads.

Maritime ports of Payra and Chattogram have been advised to hoist danger signal number 7, the maritime port of Cox's Bazar has been advised to hoist danger signal 6 while the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to hoist danger signal 5.