Authorities in Bangladesh on Saturday ordered the evacuation of at least 100,000 people from coastal areas as Cyclone Bulbul was set to make landfall later in the day.
The 'very severe' cyclonic storm surged northwards over the Bay of Bengal was centred about 280 to 475 km south-west of the maritime ports of Mongla, Payra, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar on Saturday afternoon, reports bdnews24.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the cyclone centre is about 130 kph, rising to 150 kph in gusts and squalls, according to the country's weather department.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra to hoist 'Great Danger Signal No. 10'.
Low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakiiali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars were likely to be inundated by storm surge of 5-7 feet high above normal astronomical tide.
The government has predicted seven districts -- Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Bhola -- to be most vulnerable to the effects of the storm and thus prepared the cyclone shelters in these districts for evacuation.
Bdnews24 quoted State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman as saying that "adequate measures" have been taken to tackle the storm.
Around 56,000 volunteers were on standby to provide help, he said, adding that preparations were in place to evacuate people to safe shelters before the cyclone makes landfall.
The authorities have alsosuspended all sorts of activities at three maritime ports and inland water transportation until further notice.
All the ships have been asked to move from the jetties to the outer anchorage.
Jiten accuses RO of West Parliamentary seat for being ‘biased’ in election process; writes ECI
The Leader of Opposition and also the CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday accused the Returning Officer of the West Parliamentary constituency of the Lok Sabha Dr Vishal Kumar over his ‘discriminatory’ attitude towards the opposition parties.
MHA extends AFSPA in parts of Arunachal and Nagaland for 6 more months
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in certain districts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months with effect from April 1, officials said on Thursday.
Arunachal was, is, and will remain an integral part of India: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that China's repetitive claims on Arunachal Pradesh will not change India's position, and the northeastern state will remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
‘To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture', says PM Modi on lawyers’ letter to CJI
Reacting to an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, which was signed by over 600 advocates on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that to "browbeat and bully others is the vintage culture of the Congress".
'Unacceptable, unwarranted': India again slams US' remarks on Arvind Kejriwal
Calling the US State Department's remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "unwarranted", India on Thursday said that any such external imputation on the electoral and legal process is completely unacceptable.
Excise policy case: Delhi court extends CM Kejriwal's ED custody till April 1
CM Kejriwal, whose alleged role in the excise policy scam is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was produced before Special Judge Kaweri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court on the expiry of his six-day ED remand on Thursday.
CM not above law, says ED as Kejriwal questions rationale behind his arrest
"The case has been going on for two years. The case was filed on August 17. No court has found me guilty. There are no charges against me nor has any case been filed against me. But I have been arrested," he said.
Ukrainian FM arrives in India to build on talks between PM Modi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In a first high-level visit by a Ukrainian leader since the start of hostilities with Russia in 2022, Kuleba began his two-day official visit at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.