Cyclone Sitrang lashes Bangladesh

Cyclone Sitrang formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal late yesterday (October 23, 2022).  Coastal districts of Bangladesh have been experiencing torrential rains owing to the cyclone.

Below are some of the updates of Cyclone Sitrang that started crossing Bangladesh territory this evening:

• Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Barishal airports will remain closed for 21 hours -- from 3pm today to 12pm tomorrow -- due to the inclement weather.
• Launch and speedboat movement on 12 routes from Barishal river port has been suspended due to heavy rains and gusty wind
• Wall collapses in Dhaka killing a rickshaw-puller
• Woman killed in Narail after branch falls on her
• All vessels anchored at the jetties and the outer anchorage of Chattogram port are being sent to the deeper sea
• Internet services in coastal areas are being disrupted due to a lack of electricity
• Thirteen trawlers capsized in Bay of Bengal
• Army, navy, and the coast guard are expected to evacuate people from hard-to-reach areas.
• Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) directs authorities concerned to use all secondary schools and colleges as temporary shelters
• Power Division asks subordinate bodies to open control rooms
• Most of the areas of Patuakhali district have been facing power outage since last night
• 'Alert-3' issued at Mongla port; Loading and unloading of goods halted
• Cyclone to hit Barguna and Patuakhali at 6am tomorrow; At least 19 Bangladeshi coastal districts are at high risk
• Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and three others offshore islands could be the worst hit
• A total of 7,030 shelter centres have been kept ready, which have accommodations of 25 lakh people in 15 districts
• 4 lakh people being evacuated from coastal areas
• 523 centres ready to shelter 5 lakh people in Ctg