The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked the country’s four seaports — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra — to hoist local cautionary signal No. 2 as severe cyclonic storm Murasu over the Bay of Bengal moves north-westwards towards the Indian coast.
Fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay have also been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
The Meteorological Department’s Storm Warning Centre issued the information in a special bulletin on Monday morning.
According to the bulletin, the severe cyclonic storm was centred over the west-central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and moving north-westwards.
At 6:00am on Monday, the storm was located 1,440 kilometres southwest of Chattogram port, 1,400 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,275 kilometres southwest of Mongla port and 1,295 kilometres southwest of Payra port.
The storm may move further north-westwards and cross the Andhra coast of India as a severe cyclonic storm by Monday night, the bulletin said.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kilometres of the storm centre was 89 kilometres per hour, rising to 117 kilometres per hour in gusts or squalls.
The sea remained very rough near the storm centre, it added.
The Meteorological Department asked the four seaports to maintain local cautionary signal No 2 and advised fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay to remain near the coast and navigate carefully until further notice.
Assistant meteorologist at the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office Abdul Hannan confirmed the development.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Cox’s Bazar Life Photo
