Nearly 400,000 people evacuated to 1,030 cyclone shelters in Chattogram

About 400,000 people, mainly women and children, have been evacuated to 1,030 cyclone shelters in Chattogram district to save their lives and valuables from the impacts of cyclone 'MOCHA'.

Alongside, some 16,500 volunteers are working to tackle the situation, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abul Bashar Md Fakruzzaman, who just visited the Banskhali coastal area, told BSS on the phone.

He said 90 per cent people, mainly women and children, have already been evacuated to 1,030 cyclone shelters in the coastal district.

Over 2,000 primary schools-cum-cyclone centres have already been ready to evacuate more people as Cyclone 'MOCHA' is gaining more and more strength, with each passing hour likely to turn into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, the DC added.

Meanwhile, the district administration cancelled the leave of all government officials and employees in Chattogram, he said, adding: "All kinds of preparations have already been taken to tackle the disaster in Chattogram, mainly before and after the cyclone."

"Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) of the coastal areas upazilas of Chattogram have sent vulnerable people to cyclone centres and managed dry food for them.

Nearly four lakh people have already been evacuated to 1,030 cyclone centres in Chattogram," he added.

Saying the District Administration have enough dry food for the people, DC Fakruzzaman said a total of 123 metric tonnes of rice and dry foods, 4.0 million bottles of water, sufficient ORS and Tk 524,000 in cash have been sent to the UNOs to tackle the extremely severe cyclonic storm.

He further said various NGOs and volunteer organisations have been asked to get ready to tackle any situation. The Coast Guard has been keeping their boats prepared to continue rescue activities before and after the cyclone hit, he continued.

Health Service Division has been asked to ensure treatment for victims of the cyclone. In addition, local Assistant Commissioners (land) have been asked to take the measures required for hill people.

In its latest directives, the Meteorology Department asked the seaport of Cox's Bazar to hoist "great danger signal no. 10" and advised the other 11 coastal districts, including Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur and Bhola, to maintain danger signal no. 8.

There is a possibility that the wind speed may exceed 90 kilometres per hour in these districts. Officials predict floods in vast areas along the coastline and storm surges up to 12 feet in Teknaf, where the cyclone may make landfall around noon on Sunday.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) sources said 'MOCHA' could make landfall in Teknaf and the wind speed could reach 175 kmph last night. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Chattogram has identified vulnerabilities in a total of 50 kilometres of embankment.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has opened a control room to deal with cyclone 'MOCHA'. The people of Chattogram will get all kinds of information and services related to the cyclone at the emergency service number 023-333-630-739 of this control room in Dampara of the city.

Mayor Bir Muktijoddha Rezaul Karim Chowdhury disclosed this at the disaster management sub-committee meeting of CCC this morning (May 13).

He said, "In case of cyclone 'MOCHA', the loss of life and property of the common people should be kept to a minimum, and post-disaster rescue operations should be carried out at the highest speed."

Besides, 90 shelters have already been kept ready in 41 wards under the CCC, the Mayor mentioned.