Home ›› 26 Oct 2022 ›› Front
Cyclone Sitrang have affected 419 Unions in the country damaging approximately 10,000 houses where at least nine people died.
Apart from this, 6,000 hectares of cropland has been destroyed while 1,000 fish enclosures were washed away, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman at a post-cyclone press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
He said according to the latest information, nine people died after being crushed by trees in the cyclone. Among them two died in Gopalganj, three in Cumilla and one each in Brahmanbaria, Bhola, Barguna, and Shariatpur.
Moreover, eight people died after a dredger sank into Sandwip channel at Mirsharai coast of Chattogram.
However, according to various media reports, the death toll was higher than the government claimed. Some cited the death toll 30 while some claimed it was more than 15. The Business Post could not verify the information independently.
The state minister said, “Families of the two deceased people in Gopalganj have already been provided with Tk 25,000 for cremation as per the rules. Providing donation for the families of other deceased is under process. In addition, tin and other construction materials will be provided for repairing the damaged houses.”
He said that around one million people were brought safely to 6,925 shelters house. However, as the situation improved, the sheltered people started returning to their homes after Monday midnight. All shelters were vacant by Tuesday morning.
In response to a question, he said that it will take 7-15 days to get the actual damage report.
Meanwhile the cyclonic storm “Sitrang” became very weak and disappeared by Tuesday afternoon, after lashing the coastal areas on Monday evening, according to Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD).
80 lakh customers without power
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that they have about 4.8 crore customers. Among them, 80 lakh customers were left without power as around 1,500 poles of Rural Electrification Board and Power Development Board were damaged by the Cyclone Sitrang.
Although the cyclone hit the distribution line, the transmission was not affected that much. In some places, the electricity supply was completely shut down to avoid risk after electric wires were severed by the cyclone. Power supply in those areas will resume after completely restoring the distribution line, he said while addressing a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning.
The state minister hoped that 70 per cent of the disrupted power will be restored by Tuesday afternoon. “Hopefully, we will be able to supply electricity to 100% customers by Wednesday noon,” he added.
Khatunganj wholesale market submerged
Businesses in Chaktai-Khatunganj, the country’s largest wholesale market for consumer goods, suffered major losses due to the cyclone.
Tidal water caused by the cyclone submerged the commercial areas of Chaktai, Khatunganj Asadganj, Patharghata, and Qurbaniganj, said traders.
They said rice, pulses, sugar, onion, ginger, garlic, and many other consumer goods have been destroyed by the inundation of the wholesale market.
On Tuesday morning in Khatunganj, it was seen that the businessmen were removing water from inside their establishments. Till afternoon of the day, many traders were busy drying their goods soaked by tidal water.
More than 50 trees fallen in Dhaka,
traffic is disrupted
More than 50 trees have fallen in the capital due to Cyclone Sitrang while incessant rains caused waterlogging in some places.
In most places, police, traffic department, fire service and two city corporations have removed fallen trees from the roads with the help of locals. However, traffic was still disrupted on several roads by Tuesday morning, according to sources from the fire service and DMP Traffic Department.
The fire service reported that trees fell in 47 places in the capital and two accidents have happened injuring two people. Meanwhile, around 17 fire incidents occurred.
Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone accumulated knee-deep water in the alleys of different areas of Dhaka. On Tuesday morning too, it was seen that water had accumulated in the alleys, causing immense suffering to the city dwellers.
Flight resumes at Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal airports
After nearly 21 hours, flight operations at Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Barishal airports resumed from Tuesday noon, said a Civil Aviation Authority press release.
Earlier, flight services to and from the airports were suspended at 3:00pm on Monday due to cyclone Sitrang. As a result, several flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US Bangla and Novoair on domestic routes were cancelled.
Two Bangladesh Air Force helicopters flew from Dhaka and Jashore to capture still images and videos of loss of life and property in the southern, southeastern and southwestern parts of Bangladesh caused by the cyclone Sitrang, said an ISPR release.
