The severe cyclonic storm Remal wreaked havoc across southern Bangladesh on Monday, killing at least 10 people in different parts of the country and destroying thousands of homes and establishments before weakening into a depression over Manikganj and adjoining area later at night .
Remal made landfall on Sunday night with fierce gusty winds and crashing waves, battering the coast and moving northwards, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Residents of low-lying areas experienced severe flooding, with tin roofs ripped off, trees uprooted, and thousands forced to flee to cyclone shelters.
Major cities, including Dhaka and Chattogram, were inundated due to incessant rain, and city dwellers faced difficulties finding transportation.
Mobile and internet services were disrupted while power outages were widespread.
The deaths were reported from Khulna, Satkhira, Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, and Chattogram districts. Of them, three each died in Bhola and Barishal districts and one each in Satkhira, Khulna, Chattogram, and Patuakhali districts, according to State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibbur Rahman.
Addressing a press conference, he said that 1,50,457 houses were damaged when the cyclone landed. Of these, 35,483 houses were completely destroyed across 107 unions and 914 municipalities. At least 3.76 million people in 19 coastal districts have been affected.
The affected districts include Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Barishal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bhola, Feni, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Narail, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, and Jashore, the minister said.
More than 8,00,000 people from the coastal regions were evacuated as part of the extensive preparations.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,471 medical teams were formed to provide treatment to people in the cyclone-hit areas, with 1,400 of them remaining active.
Mohibbur said that Tk 6.85 crore has been allocated to the affected people. Of this, Tk 3.85 crore, 5,500 tonnes of rice, 5,000 dry food packs, Tk 1.50 crore for baby food, and Tk 1.50 crore for fodder have been distributed in 15 districts, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina monitored the situation, remaining sleepless throughout the night, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told a press conference on Monday. He said the prime minister will visit the affected areas once the weather situation improves.
Impact in India
Meanwhile, in neighbouring India, "at least six people" died, said Sumit Gupta, a senior government official from West Bengal state. Among the victims, three were electrocuted and others were hit by debris.
Villages were swamped by storm surges, tin roofs ripped off, trees uprooted, and power lines cut, according to an AFP reporter in the affected area.
In India's West Bengal, the cyclone "blown off the roofs of hundreds of houses" and "uprooted thousands of mangrove trees and electricity poles," senior state government minister Bankim Chandra Hazra told AFP.
"Storm surges and rising sea levels have breached a number of embankments," Hazra added. "Some island villages are flooded."
BMD predictions
The BMD predicted further light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds in most places over Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions under the influence of the cyclonic storm.
It is likely to move northeastwards further and weaken gradually by giving precipitation, the BMD stated in its special bulletin. Maritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to lower danger signal number ten but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three.
Similarly, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till tomorrow morning and then proceed with caution.
Power and telecom disruptions
The cyclonic storm disrupted power supply to southern districts, leaving over 20 million people without power since Sunday night. Power supply to 22.2 million consumers of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) was suspended after the cyclone made landfall, according to a top BREB official.
These consumers are living in areas served by 61 Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs), out of a total of 81. “The areas where power supply remained off till Monday since the cyclone hit are mainly located in the coastal belt of the country,” he said.
He, however, said that power transmission was mainly halted in those cyclone-hit areas as a precautionary measure to avoid any accidents. With the improvement of the situation, the power transmission and distribution system will gradually be checked and restored, he added.
Meanwhile, telecom industry sources said that half of the country’s over 45,000 cell towers faced power outages as the electricity providers had to cut power to prevent accidents during the cyclone.
According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Barguna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Bhola, Satkhira, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Barishal, and Gopalganj were the most affected districts, facing telecommunication disruptions as 66 to 82 per cent of cell towers there went out of service by Monday morning.
