A large number of people in the coastal district remain highly vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones and tidal surges as 157 cyclone shelters here can accommodate only three lakh people among the 25 lakh inhabitants of the area.
Of the nine upazilas in the district, Digholia, Phultala, Rupsha and Terokhada are without any cyclone shelters.
The coastal area saw onslaught of super cyclones Sidr in 2007, Aila in 2009, and Mahasen in 2013, and the storms accompanied by tidal surges claimed a number of lives and destroyed huge quantity of valuables including crops, cattle and dwelling houses.
There are 17 cyclone shelters in Batiaghata, 8 in Dumuria, 27 in Paikgachha, 57 in Dakope and 48 in Koyra upazila under Khulna district, said sources at district rescue and rehabilitation centre.
Four other cyclone centres, two each in Dakope and Koyra upazilas, are under construction.
Being adjacent to the coast, Dakope and Koyra upazilas bear the brunt of natural disasters and so, they have more cyclone centres than other upazilas.
However, 12 of the existing cyclone shelters in the two upazilas are in dilapidated condition.
Bijoy Sarkar, chairman of Moheswaripur Union Parishad (UP) of Koyra, said inhabitants of the upazila become the worst victims during any natural disaster in the coastal area and so, more cyclone shelters should be built in the upazila and the existing ones should be repaired.
GM Ashraf, chairman of Suterkhali UP of Dakope upazila, said, "Cyclone shelters are not sufficient here. Several times we informed the LGED for repairing the shelters, but to no effect."
Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Anis Mahmud said, "Recently 14 new cyclone shelters have been built. More cyclone shelters will be built gradually, especially at places without any such structureas."
Locals have urged the government authorities to take necessary steps for saving the lives and livelihoods of the people of the coastal region from natural disasters.