Bulbul weakens into depression, signal lowered to 3

--Now lying over Noakhali, Barishal and Patuakhali 

--7 killed in six districts including Khulna, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Barguna

--Over 100 shrimp gher washed away in Khulna

--Operations resumed at Ctg land and air ports

The deep depression over Barishal, Patuakhali and Bhola regions moved slightly northeastwards, weakened further into a depression and lies over Noakhali, Barishal and Patuakhali regions Sunday evening.

All maritime ports including Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three, said special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

At least seven people were killed in six districts including Khulna, Satkhira and Patuakhali due to the cyclone storm, reports our local correspondents.

It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further and weaken gradually by giving precipitation. Under its influence steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay and southern part of Bangladesh.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till tomorrow morning .

Bulbul made landfall in West Bengal, entered Bangladesh thru’ Sundarbans

Cyclone Bulbul lost strength and entered Bangladesh through the Sundarbans in Khulna around midnight Saturday, after making landfall at Sagar Island in the southern part of India’s West Bengal.

The cyclone left at least five people injured in Bhola’s Lalmohan upazila and Char Hardinge. Around 15 houses were damaged in the upazila, said fire service sources.

Mahmudur Hasan, divisional forest officer in the Sundarbans (East), early Sunday said the cyclone’s eye crossed the Bangladesh coast with low tide in the Bay.

The wind speed was between 100 and 120 km per hour at that time, according to the Met office.

In a special bulletin around 11:00pm yesterday, the Met office had said “Bulbul” weakened into a “severe” cyclone from a “very severe” one and moved northeast at a speed of about 8kph.

It crossed the West Bengal-Khulna coast near the Sundarbans around 9:00pm, according to the bulletin.

At least 151 fishermen from Bhola, Barguna and Patuakhali, who had gone to the sea, were missing till last night.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said around 21 lakh people were evacuated to more than 5,500 cyclone centres in 14 districts, including Satkhira, Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat and Khulna.

Ministry sources said more than 55,000 volunteers worked for the evacuation in the districts.

Our correspondents reported that using megaphones, the volunteers requested people to move to the centres throughout the day.

Meanwhile, more than 30,000 people were stuck in different char areas of Patuakhali, Barguna and Bagerhat, said district administration sources. Over 1,000 tourists were stranded on St Martin’s Island till last night.

While talking to reporters, Ayesha Khatun, deputy director of the Dhaka Met office, yesterday said the cyclone would trigger tidal surges 5 to 7 feet higher than the usual ones, inundating low lying areas in the coastal region.

Asked about the severity of the cyclone, she said it could be stronger than Cyclone Aila and weaker than Super Cyclone Sidr.

The highest wind speed of Sidr that hit Bangladesh coast in November 2007 was recorded in Patuakhali at 223kmph.

Government preparations

Disaster Management Senior Secretary Md Shah Kamal said army troops and members of the coastguard were called out to supplement the cyclone preparedness initiatives, alongside Red Crescent volunteers and members of government agencies, including police.

The evacuation drive was underway in 14 districts -- Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur and Chandpur, and their offshore islands and chars.

“In most vulnerable areas, including chars, we are trying to help people move out along with their valuables and cattle,” he said.

Kamal said the evacuees were being provided with dry food while “we have enough stock of relief materials for them,” while nearly 1,600 medical teams were kept ready to treat the cyclone victims.

The ISPR said the navy prepared two war ships equipped with medical facilities and relief materials to launch rescue drives.

State Minister Md Enamur Rahman said army troops were ready as part of the government preparedness for the cyclone.

“We have adequate stock of food . . . the local administration, army troops and volunteers are ready to face the cyclone impact,” he said.