KHULNA, Nov 10, 2019 (BSS) – People here particularly in the vast coastal
belt heaved a sigh of relief as cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ that formed in the
Bay of Bengal crossed the country’s southwestern district with wrecking
little destruction early today.
Though authorities concerned including the district administration remained
cautious and took necessary preparations to face the calamity, the situation
became normal today noon as the storm has moved to southwestern wards,
lessening the risk of hard hitting the Khulna coastal belt including Mongla
Sea Port.
The operational activities of Mongla Sea Port had been suspended after
being announced danger signal no-10 for it since Friday evening due to the
eye of cyclonic storm Bulbul.
The port activities are likely to resume today afternoon or tomorrow, said
Md Makruzzaman, secretary of Mongla Port Authority (MPA).
Meanwhile, Khulna coastal belt and adjacent districts near Sundarbans
experienced overnight and morning heavy rainfall today with squally winds
under the influence of ‘Bulbul’
Scores of people became homeless as tidal waves leaping up to 4-5 feet
high rolled into those coastal districts. The waves damaged river and flood-
control embankments and dykes, submerging many villages in Khulna, Satkhira
and Bagerhat, local people said.
The storm ravaged largely domestic animals, standing crops on farmland and
shrimp enclosure, they said.
Under the influence of Bulbul, the district is now experiencing moderate to
heavy downpour, paralyzing life of people.
The worst affected upazilas of Khulna is Koyra and Dakop and Bagerhat’s
Sharonkhola where scores of thatched houses were wrecked by rage of the
cyclonic storm.
Power supply to cyclone affected costal districts remained snapped.
Around 10,000 members of Red Crescent Society have been dispatched to the
affected areas of the district with water purifying tablets and other relief
materials.
As part of the immediate response to post-cyclone, Khulna district
administration has already allocated 1.60-lakh tonnes of rice and Taka 8
lakh.
A total of 16 control room have been opened up in upazilas of Khulna while
2,460 volunteers, 114 medical teams, officials of some non-government
organisations and officials of Relief and Rehabilitation Department have been
remained ready to help affected people, said Azizul Islam Zoadder, District
Disaster Management and Relief Officer in Khulna.