Ctg completes preparations to face severe cyclone ‘Sitrang’

Chattogram district administration has completed all the preparations to face the impending severe cyclone 'Sitrang.'

A total of 2,758 cyclone shelter centres, including 2,269 primary schools, are being prepared in all coastal upazilas of the district.

Meanwhile, the district administration in an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon has taken up brisk preparations comprising all public utility departments and relevant agencies to cope with any eventuality of the cyclonic storm Sitrang.

People of the coastal upazilas, including Sandwip, Banskhali, Anowara, Sitakunda and Mirsari, are expected to take shelter in those cyclone centres.

Earlier, leaves of all officials, employees, doctors and nurses of the areas have been cancelled and kept ready to face any eventuality of the Sitrang, Mominur Rahman, deputy commissioner, told journalists.

A total of 284 medical teams with 5,000 health workers, and an adequate number of volunteers of the Red Crescent Society have been kept ready apart from the district administration is monitoring the overall situation round the clock, said Dr Ilias Chowdhury, civil surgeon of Chattogram.

In the meantime, Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has already stopped loading and unloading goods from the vessels anchored in both port jetties and its outer anchorage from 8 am this morning in the backdrop of the cyclonic storm that formed over east central Bay.

All lighter vessels have also been removed from the port channel, Port secretary Omar Faruk said.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Reazaul Karim Chowdhury is taking updates on the overall preparation from the authorities concerned.

The met office this morning advised Chattogram and Cox's Bazar to keep hoisting danger signal No 6 as the severe cyclonic storm Sitrang is approaching towards the Bangladesh coasts.

Chattogram Port has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number six covering Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars.

The bulletin asked all fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea to remain in shelter till further notice.

The adequate number of vehicles of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is prepared to respond to any emergency call, the CCC sources said.

The ward councillors are working in the areas to aware people of the precautionary measures to deal with the severe cyclone.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have already taken shelter in the bank of Karnaphuli River.

Cyclone Sitrang may cross between Barishal and Chattogram near Khepupara by tomorrow (October 25, 2022) morning, the met office said.

Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh are likely to experience gusty or squally winds of 40-50 kph in addition to heavy to very heavy rainfall.