Amphan weakens, turns into land depression

Maritime ports of Mongla, Payra, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar  have been advised to lower local cautionary signal number to three  as cyclone Amphan has weakened into a land depression, said a Met office bulletin.

After lashing Satkhira, Khulna and Jashore regions on Wednesday night, cyclone ‘Amphan’ has gradually weakened.

“It now lies over Pabna, Rajshahi and adjoining area as a land depression,” the Met Office said on Thursday morning. It may move further towards Sirajganj and Jamalpur while gradually losing its strength.

It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further and gradually weaken, the special bulletin said.

Earlier cyclone ‘Amphan’ lashed Bangladesh coastal region after making landfall in West Bengal of India on Wednesday night, taking a huge toll on life, property and crops.

Amphan tore through coastal villages, flattening mud houses, blowing off roofs, uprooting trees and causing damage to crops.

Dhaka/Mukul