Cyclone Yaas approaching

The government is taking adequate precautionary measures to weather Cyclone Yaas, which is approaching the Southwest region near the Indian border and will likely make landfall on Wednesday afternoon.

"InshAllah, we will remain alert and be able to minimise this hazard," said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday at the inauguration of 215 cyclone and flood shelter centres along with other infrastructure in the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

She went on to urge people to stay alert to reduce the damages.

"Now, we can know about the cyclones beforehand with the help of technology. Be cautious and aware to reduce the risks in any disaster," she added.

The cyclonic storm will gain strength during the full moon when the normal tide will be higher.

The surge will add another four to five feet, so the difference between low tide and high tide could be up to 20 feet, said Md Abdul Mannan from the storm warning centre of the Bangladesh Met Office.

With a wind speed of 118 km per hour, Yaas may become a 'severe cyclone', he said.

The cyclone is heading towards the Odissa coast and partially the Sundarbans area, said Samarendra Karmakar, a former director of the Met Office.

"But it is too early to make any prediction about the cyclone as it may change its direction at the last moment after gaining pace," he said.

The Met Office have advised all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay to come close to the coast and proceed with caution and not venture into the deep sea.

The Water Resources Ministry has set up a control room to monitor the cyclone and collect information.

The phone number of the control room is 01318234560, said an official release signed by the ministry's deputy secretary SM Sarwar Kamal yesterday.