Photo: TDM
Patuakhali district is taking maximum preparations to deal with the upcoming Cyclone 'Mocha'. The cyclone has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the central and southeast Bay of Bengal.
To save lives, 703 shelters and 23 Mujib ‘Killa’ have been prepared, and the Payra port authority will work with the administration to reduce erosion damage in coastal areas.
However, the coastal residents are spending sleepless nights due to the lack of adequate shelters in remote areas, and the 18 km embankment in these areas is at risk.
The Water Development Board reports that 10 km of dams have already been damaged in the district, and most of them are in Mirzaganj.
In addition, 34 km of partially vulnerable embankments exist in the area. Villages are flooded during tidal waves or cyclones due to the lack of durable embankments in these areas, and the houses of thousands of families are damaged along with croplands. Despite the repair work by the Water Development Board, many areas remain unprotected.
The people of the coastal areas are currently in panic for the cyclone. Chaulabunia, Garuvanga, Charmontaj,’ Char’ Anda of Rangabali; Nizampur, Charipara, Mahallapara, Debpur in Kalapara, and Sandhyakalikapur, Piprakakhli, Vigakhali Chingura areas of Mirzaganj do not have sustainable embankments, making these areas vulnerable to storms every year.
Laili Begum, a resident of Piprakakhali area of Mirzaganj upazila, said that they do not have shelters in their area and have already lost their land. Although some repair work is going on in Golkhali and Piprakakhli in Mirzaganj upazila, many areas are still unprotected.
In preparation for Cyclone 'Mocha', the trawlers from Patuakhali's two major fishing ports, Alipur and Mohipur, are returning to the port.
District Commissioner Shoriful Islam said, “The district administration has prepared 703 cyclone shelters and 26 Mujib forts, and if necessary, educational institutions, public and private multi-storied buildings will also be used.”
“In addition, Tk 8 lakh 22 thousand 500 cash, 400 metric tons of rice, 146 bundles of rice, and housing allowances totaling Tk 4 lakh 38 thousand are available, as well as medicines, food saline, water purification tablets.” He added.
Eight thousand seven hundred volunteers have been trained to deal with disaster and disaster response situations. All government and private employees' leaves have been canceled, and a control room has been opened at the district headquarters and all upazilas.
The authorities have kept the boats of Payra port ready all the time to evacuate the common people from inaccessible areas to shelters. The boats will help people to move to safe locations before the cyclone hits. Although the authorities are making maximum preparations, the lack of durable embankments in remote areas remains a cause for concern.
TDM/MI
