IT News
Dhaka, May 21:
At least 12 people died as super cyclone Amphan battered the coastal areas of Bangladesh leaving a trail of destruction before weakening gradually, Bangladesh authorities said.
Health Emergency Operations control room confirmed the death of 12 people – two each in Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur and Jashore districts and one each in Barishal, Sathkhira, Jhenaidah and Chattogram districts.
The victims include a Red Crescent volunteer Syed Shah Alam, who drowned after his boat capsized due to strong winds in Kalapara area of Patuakhali.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the cyclone completed crossing Bangladesh coast at night and was staying over Jhenaidah in the morning. It was moving towards Rajshahi and Pabna region after being weakened gradually.
Maritime ports Mongla and Payra had been advised to lower the great danger signal 10 and hoist local cautionary signal three.
Maritime ports Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar were also advised to hoist local cautionary signal three.
Authorities of different government department said they were still assessing the damage in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
‘We had nearly 1.5 crore clients without power until 5:00am. We are trying to restore the supply. But polls were collapsed in many areas and cables were torn apart,’ said Major General (retd) Moin Uiddin, the chairman of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.
Bangladesh Water Development Board said the cyclone had damaged embankments in many areas causing flood.
The Amphan is touted to be the most powerful cyclone in the Bay of Bengal since a devastating super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 9,000 people in Odisha.
