`Komen` hits St. Martin, Teknaf

Cox`s Bazar Correspondent: The cyclonic storm `Komen` hit the Saint Martin`s Island and Teknaf on Thursday morning with a wind speed of 51-61 kmph.

 
The Meteorological Department said the storm hit the Island and Teknaf around 10:00am and racing toward north-east and gradually weakening.

Meanwhile, hundreds of homes were destroyed in Cox`s Bazar due to ‘Komen’ and a man named Muhammad Islam, 50, was killed as he crushed under a coconut tree which was uprooted by the storm while the sea level is rising.

The Meteorological Department advised Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar maritime ports to hoist danger signal No. 7. It has also advised the Mongla and Payra ports to hoist danger signal No. 5.

AKM Nazmul Haque, an assistant meteorologist of Cox`s Bazar weather office, told risingbd.com that the deep depression of Bay of Bengal has become a strong cyclone storm which is named as `Komen`.

The cyclone is losing its power gradually and racing toward north-east, he said adding that the sea level may rise 5-7ft than normal.

"The cyclone storm `Komen` would hit the country’s coasts of Barisal and Chittagong and Cox`s Bazar around this noon or afternoon," he said.

Apart from Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, the Met office also advised danger signal No. 7 for Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars.

Coastal districts such as Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars were also advised to hoist danger signal No. 5.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has ordered the local administrations to take measures to tackle the cyclone in the coastal areas.

The ministry’s Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) policy committee and implementation board held a meeting Wednesday night in Dhaka as the situation deteriorated in the Bay.

The measures include relocating people and livestock from the risky areas, prepare the storm shelters, and having medical teams and local hospitals and volunteers at the ready for any emergencies.

The ministry has asked the district administrations of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati and Bandarban to be alert to any landslides.

Control rooms were also opened at the coastal districts to supervise the countermeasures for cyclone ‘Komen’.

risingbd/July 30, 2015/Rubel/Aminul