Fani to stay over Bangladesh till afternoon: Met Office

-- Fani will stay over Bangladesh till 4pm

--3 killed in storm in Barguna, Noakhali

-- Heavy rainfall across Bangladesh

-- Storm surges hit coastal areas

-- 50 villages inundated as embankments breached

The severe cyclonic storm Fani will stay over Bangladesh till this afternoon, said Shamsuddin Ahmed, director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

The cyclone eye is now located west of Dhaka and will stay over the country for six more hours, the director told The Daily Star around 10:00am.

Earlier in the morning, Fani crossed over Gangetic West Bengal and Satkhira, Jashore and Khulna region in the southwestern part of Bangladesh and moved north-northeastwards further, weakening into a cyclonic storm, and was located over Dhaka-Faridpur region at 9:00am, a Met Office bulletin said

It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further inland over Bangladesh, the bulletin said.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, the sky remains overcast and rain/thunder showers with gusty or squally wind is continuing across Bangladesh.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kilometres of the storm centre is about 62 kmph rising to 88 kmph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough, according to the Met Office forecast.

Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number 7. Coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will also come under danger signal 7.

Maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number 6. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will also come under danger signal number 6.

Maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number 4.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “Fani” and the new moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and Chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 2-4 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

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