Seven dead, houses, dam damaged

The ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ Yaas has approached Bangladesh coastal areas  and made landfall close to coastal districts of the Indian state of Odisha at 9:30pm on Wednesday.

Though it didn’t directly hit Bangladesh’s coastal areas, but the devastating storm killed at least seven people in the country and injured many. The cyclonic storm also  affected at least 27 upazilas along the coast in nine districts. Hundreds of houses were destroyed and damaged dozens of embankments. Due to cyclone, the southern districts of Bangladesh experienced stormy weather and flash-floods almost all day long. 

Seven died in Bangladesh

Storm and flood triggered by Cyclone Yaas have taken seven lives across the city since Tuesday night. Four of them are children.

A man died after a tree branch fell on him during a storm triggered by Cyclone Yaas in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola district on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Abu Taher, 48, a farmer of the upazila.

Meanwhile, a body of a missing fisherman was recovered from the tidal waters at Sonagazi of Feni. The body was recovered by the fire service and police from the small Feni river at in the upazila around 10pm on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a body of a four-year-old child was recovered in Bagerhat after being swept away by tidal water due to the cyclone.

At the meantime, two children Sumaiya and Ajoya died in Bakerganj, Barisal by drown in flood water. The incident took place at Niyamti and Garudia unions of the district on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a child Imamul fell into the flood water when an embankment broke while he was going to the shelter in Dakshin Kalikabari area of Betagi upazila of Barguna around 11am on Wednesday. His body was recovered an hour later.

Meanwhile, Nanna Jamaddar drowned while fishing in a canal near his house at Dowatla in Bamna upazila of Barguna around 11pm on Tuesday.

Residents of 27 upazilas affacted

While disclosing the overall cyclone situation, the State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman said the residents of 27 upazilas across nine coastal districts of Bangladesh were affected by tidal surges caused by severe cyclonic storm Yaas.

“Yaas crosses the Indian coast this (Wednesday) morning. Bangladesh is now completely free from its effects. However, people in 27 upazilas of nine coastal districts have been affected by the high tide as a result of the storm,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks at a press conference on the overall cyclone situation held in the conference room of the ministry at the secretariat in Dhaka. He said upazilas of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and Laxmipur districts have been affected by tidal surges.

The affected upazilas include Shyamnagar, Asashuni, Koyra, Dakop, Paikgachha, Sharankhola, Mongla, Morelganj, Mathbaria, Barguna Sadar, Patharghata, Amtali, Patuakhali Sadar, Galachipa, Rangabali, Dashmina, Mirzaganj, Kolapara, Charfashion, Monpura, Tajumuddin, Dawlatkhan, Borhanuddin, Bhola Sadar, Hatia, Ramgati and Kamalnagar, he informed.

3 injured, 50 houses destroyed in Jhenaidah

Three people were injured and some 50 houses were damaged in a storm at Armukhi village in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila on Tuesday night, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Yaas.

Kabir Hossain, chairman of Naldanga union, said a two-kilometre area of the village, stretching from Kutipara to Pashchimpara, was flattened by the storm that lasted for about 15-20 seconds.

“Three people, including a woman and a child, were injured in the storm. Hundreds of trees were uprooted while all semi-pucca and huts were destroyed,” he said.

Coastal areas of Satkhira inundate

Low-lying areas of the Burigoalini union in Satkhira’s Shyamnagar upazila continue to be inundated due to heavy showers and strong tidal surges as cyclone Yaas makes landfall in eastern Indian state Odisha.

Some 15 areas, including Gabura, Koikhali, Munshiganj and Padmapukur in the Burigoalini area of the upazila, are being flooded since Tuesday night. Several coastal areas of the upazila witnessed heavy to moderate showers and three-to-four feet high tidal surges on Wednesday morning.

Already 55 places in Assasuni and Shyamnagar upazilas have been identified as risky and the villagers are working very hard to repair the damaged embankments. Residents of Pratapnagar, Sriula, Anulia, Khajra in Assasuni upazila and Padmapukur, Gabura, Buigoalini, Atulia, Koikhali, Ishwaripur, Ramjannagar, Kashimari, Munshiganj, Harinagar along Sundarbans in Shyamnagar upazila have been alerted about the cyclone.

Low-lying areas inundated in Bhola

The coastal island Bhola experienced drizzle and strong wind Wednesday morning. About 50 low-lying areas including Monpura, Dhal Char of Charfason, Kukuri Mukri, Charnijam, Char Zahiruddin, Majher Char, Madanpur have been inundated as the Meghna River swelled. Numerous fish in ponds have been washed away. Besides, 17 spots on the embankment of the Water Development Board have been damaged due to tidal surge.

Embankments damaged in Khulna

Several villages are flooded as the tidal water in the rivers adjoining the Sundarbans in Khulna has increased by 3 to 4 feet than normal and damages embankments due to the effect of cyclone Yaas.

The water has damaged the embankments of the Water Development Board at five points and submerged several villages. Some embankments of Dakop and Paikgachha upazilas have also been damaged.

According to local people, the water level in Kapotakkho, Shakbaria, Pashur, Chunkundi, Dhaki, Shibsa, Kazibachha, Jhapjhapia and Manga rivers of Koyra and Dakop upazilas adjacent to the Sundarbans has risen by 3 to 4 feet due to cyclone Yaas and full moon.

The 1,000-foot embankment at Padmapukur on the same river and the half-kilometre embankment at Hariharpur Gazipara are also at risk. On Tuesday afternoon, the embankment of Shakbaria river in North Bedkashi union and the embankment of the Water Development Board, half a kilometre east of Katkata Bazar, became risky due to tidal water.

Embankment in Cox’s Bazar damaged

Cox’s Bazar Met Department’s meteorologist said that cautionary signal number three is ongoing but the coastal district is free from the risk of Cyclone Yaas’ impact. Sea levels could rise by three to six feet above normal as the Bay of Bengal is now very rough.

The tidal waves are coming straight to the Marine Drive as the sea level has increased several times more than normal. In St Martin’s island, several parts of the jetty’s pontoon have been damaged by the current. Some parts of the main jetty were also damaged. Dozens of houses in Delpara village on the island have been inundated by tidal water, our correspondent added.

14 villages flooded in Barguna

The waters of Payra and Andhar Manik rivers at Taltali upazila in Barguna district have risen several feet above normal, flooding 14 villages in five unions.

As a result, some 10,000 people have become marooned by floodwater. Besides, fish from ponds and enclosures have been washed away in the river.

The tides started flowing in the rivers of the coastal area at 8:00am on Wednesday and continued till 12noon.

Thousands of people are now stranded. Meanwhile, the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) members are evacuating people from a government housing area outside the embankment of Sonakata union as it went under the water.

Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Hossain said dry food and fresh water will be provided to the victims.