Cyclone Fani hits coastal areas of Bangladesh

The severe cyclonic storm "Fani” has crossed over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh and moved north-northeastwards further, weakening into a cyclonic storm, the Met Office said in a special bulletin this morning. The storm is now located over Satkhira, Jashore and Khulna region as of 6:00 am, and it is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further inland over Bangladesh.

According to the MeT officials, under the influence of the cyclonic storm, the sky remains overcast and rain/thundershowers with gusty or squally wind are continuing across Bangladesh. Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kilometres of the storm centre is about 62 km per hour rising to 88 kmph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough, according to the Met Office forecast. Under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “Fani” and the new moon phase, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and Chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 2-4 feet height above normal astronomical tide.