Fani likely to hit Khulna, southwestern coast by midnight

The extremely severe cyclone Fani is likely to make landfall in Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by midnight today, said a met office bulletin.

The special bulletin issued by Bangladesh Meteorological Development this morning forecast that ‘Fani’ may move into a north-northeasterly direction further, cross Odisha coast of India by this afternoon and then moved to north-northeasterly direction over Odisha-West Bengal coastal area, and reach Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by today midnight.

The very severe cyclonic storm over northwest bay and adjoining west- central Bay moved slightly north-northeastwards over the same area and was centred at 6 am today about 605 km southwest of Mongla port, 635 km southwest of Payra port, 770 km west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port and 790 km west- southwest of Chattogram port, it said.

The bulletin said Khulna and adjoining southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh may experience the peripheral effect of the ‘Fani’ by this noon.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 74-km of the storm centre is about 180-kph rising to 200-kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very high near the cyclone centre.

The Met office asked maritime ports of Mongla and Payra to keep hoisting danger signal number seven and maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to be hoisted danger signal six.

Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars come under danger signal number seven, while coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars under danger signal number six, it said.

Maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisting local warning signal number four.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “Fani” and the new moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 4-5 feet high above normal astronomical tide, the weather bulletin said.

The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars may experience wind speed up to 80-100 kph in gusts or squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been asked to remain in safe shelter till further notice.

Source: bss