Severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’ turns into deep depression, signal lowered

The severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ has weakened further into a deep depression, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

‘Bulbul’ made a landfall in Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of the country early Sunday before weakening into a deep depression.

The depression was lying over Bagerhat, Barishal and Patuakhali regions at 6 am on Sunday, said a Met Office special bulletin.

It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction further and weaken gradually, it added.

The coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Faridpur, Madaripur, Cumilla, Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh are likely to experience a sweeping wind of 50-60 kph in gusts/squalls with heavy to very heavy rains due to the deep depression.

Of them, Tariq, 17 who suffered severe injuries is undergoing treatment at Char Fasson Hospital, said Mir Khairul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Lalmohan Police Station.

Lalmohan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Habibul Hasan Rumi said eight people were injured at Lord Hardinge union in the upazila. Four of the injured were taken to Char Fasson Hospital for treatment.

At least seven houses were damaged by the storm at different villages in Wajpur union of Char Fasson upazila around 9pm, said Wajpur union parishad chairman Selim Hawlader.

Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower danger number three from great danger no. 10 and Mmritime port of Chattogram has been advised to lower great danger signal to three from nine.  Maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has also been advised to lower local warning signal number three from four.

Coastal districts -- Khulna, Satkhira, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirozpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-100 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very heavy falls during the passage of the storm, the morning bulletin of Met office said.

Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “Bulbul” and the moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirozpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet height above normal astronomical tide, it said.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Many areas across the country, including the capital, have been experiencing rain due to the effect of the cyclone storm since Saturday morning.