The cyclonic storm ‘Aila’ was likely to intensify and move in a northerly direction and cross West Bengal

May 25, 2009

The cyclonic storm ‘Aila’ was likely to intensify and move in a northerly direction and cross West Bengal-Khulna coast by noon or early afternoon, the Meteorological Department said. The storm was about 475 km southwest of Chittagong port, 435 km southwest of Cox’s Bazaar port and 345 km southsouthwest of Mongla port at 6 am Monday, said a special weather bulletin issued Monday morning. Sea will remain very rough, the bulletin said.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the storm centre is about 70 kph rising to 90 kph in gusts or squalls.

Maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number seven.

The coastal districts of Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Borguna, Pirozpur, Jhalokathhi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Jessore and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger signal number seven.

Maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazaar have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number six.

The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazaar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, laxmipur, Comilla, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will be under danger signal number six.

Under the influence of the storm, the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Borguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, pirozpur, Jhalokathhi, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by squally winds of speed up to 90 kph with the passage of the storm.

The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Borguna, Satkhira, Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalokathhi, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of height 06-08 feet above normal astronomical tide.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

River traffic halted

The weather has forced suspension of ferry movement since 8am Sunday on all rivers routes, Patuakhali river port official Md Shahidul Mia said.

Fishermen are coming back from the sea because of high tide, said general secretary of fish traders committee Nimai Chandra from Kuakata.

The rivers in the costal areas are flowing in high tide because of the depression in the bay, said Ahsan Azim from Charkajal.

It had been raining sporadically in the coastal areas of Patuakhali since Saturday midnight, our correspondent said.

Barguna wary

The people of the coastal southern district of Barguna, hit by cyclone Sidr in late 2007, are living in constant fear on the news that a depression in the Bay of Bengal has deepened and still intensifying.

Our correspondent says it has been raining sporadically since Saturday midnight and the sun has remained behind the clouds.

Hundreds of fishing trawlers have returned to Pathorghata, Noli and Taltoli from the Bay until Sunday afternoon, said president of Barguna District Trawler Owners’ Association Golam Mostafa Chowdhury.

“We will start calling people to shelter buildings through megaphones as soon as the level of the signal is increased,” said the team leader of cyclone preparation activities and member of Borguna Red Crescent Unit Zakir Hossain Miraj.

The earlier report

The storm “Aila” was centred at 9pm on Sunday about 540 kms southwest of Chittagong port, 485 kms southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 430 kms south-southwest of Mongla port.

It was likely to intensify further and more in a northerly direction and cross West Bengal-Khulna coast by noon on Monday.

The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and three offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind-driven surge of five to seven feet above normal astronomical tide.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the storm centre is about 60 kph rising to 70 kph in gusts. Sea will remain rough.

Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla ports have been advised to hoist local warning signal number four.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter until further notice.

Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty to squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Barisal, Khulna and Chittagong divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy rainfalls at places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions.

The cyclonic storm ‘Aila’ was likely to intensify and move in a northerly direction and cross West Bengal

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