ZCZC
BSS-16
FANI-CASUALITIES-LEAD
Fani wrath claims four lives in Bangladesh
(UPDATES with disaster management briefing)
DHAKA, May 4, 2019 (BSS) – Fani, dubbed to the deadliest cyclone in the
region in decades, today kept the mark of its wrath claiming at least four
lives and injured over 60 others as it lashed across the country after
ravaging the eastern Indian coastlines.
Disaster management ministry in a news briefing this afternoon confirmed
the four deaths from three coastal districts adding at least 63 people were
wounded as the storm swept through parts of Bangladesh.
“Four people were killed as Fani hit Bangladesh – of them two died in
Barguna, one in Bhola and one in Noakhali,” disaster management ministry’s
senior secretary Shah Kamal told the briefing.
Food minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder and state minister for disaster
management Dr Enamur Rahman also joined the meeting along with concerned
officials of different ministries and organizations at the disaster
management ministry’s conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.
Rahman, however, said the ministry was yet to compile the details of the
casualties and damages caused the cyclone.
“The detailed information from all the affected districts is yet to reach
us, give us 24 more hours we will let you know the details gathering the
information,” he said.
The severe cyclonic storm, which entered Bangladesh through the
southwestern region earlier this morning, also wounded several people though
it weakened strength while barreling to Bangladesh overland.
Over 1.5 million were evacuated overnight from their homes to take
makeshift refuge at cyclone shelters and other safer places while Kamal urged
them to prepare for returning home.
Cabinet secretary Shafiul Alam, Prime Minister’s principal secretary
Nojibur Rahman, member of the parliamentary standing committee on disaster
management Captain (retd) AB Tazul Islam MP, information secretary Abdul
Maleque, health secretary M Asadul Islam, principal information officer (PIO)
Zainal Abedin, among others, attended the press briefing.
Met office meanwhile said the cyclone danger was now over but the inland
water transport authorities, however, kept enforced its order suspending
movement of launches and ferries in view of adverse weather.
The state-run Biman and most private airlines stopped their flights on
domestic and Kolkata routes.
Airlines officials said they cancelled 10 flights since morning and
rescheduled several others though the civil aviation authorities kept
operative all the airports for flight operations with extra cautions.
Meteorologists earlier today said the storm swept over the country in the
form of a “land depression” with a maximum wind speed of 40-50, rising to 60
kph in gusts.
In Barguna, Nur Jahan, 50, and her grandson Zahidul Islam, 8, died after a
tree fell on their home when they were asleep around 3:00 am due to the
effect of approaching Fani at Charduani village in Patharghata of Barguna,
police said.
Upazila administration said one Rani Begum, 50, wife of Shamsul Haq died as
a house collapsed and fell on her in Balia Koralia village Bhola Sadar
upazila in the early hours of today.
A two-year boy Ismail, son of one Abdur Rahman, was killed while a house
collapsed at char Aminul Haq village in Noakahli last night.
BSS/OG/AR/1725hrs