Dhaka: Very severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is likely to reach Khulna and southwestern part of Bangladesh between midnight and Saturday morning, the Met Office says in an updated forecast.

It was about 410km southwest of Mongla port and 475km southwest of Payra port at 6pm. The danger level remains 7 for the ports and the coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, reports the UNB.

More than 400,000 people have already been evacuated from the coastal areas.

‘Fani’ has moved north-northeastwards and weakened further and currently lies over coastal Odisha and adjoining northwest bay, the Met Office said on Friday evening. The Maximum sustained wind speed within 64kms of the storm centre is about 120kph, rising to 140kph. 

Chattogram port has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal No 6. The same warning level has been announced for Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, and Chandpur. The danger level at Cox’s Bazar port remains four.

The Met Office has also forecast five feet high storm surge. 

Bangladesh has been feeling the peripheral effect of ‘Fani’ since morning. A number of villages and shoals in coastal districts have already been inundated.

The Navy has deployed 32 ships in Chattogram, Khulna and Mongla for emergency rescue operations and relief work. Naval contingents are on standby for immediate deployment in coastal areas, ISPR said in a press release.

The government has opened 4,071 cyclone centres in 19 coastal districts and set up control rooms. The National Disaster Response Coordination Centre is providing updates.

‘Sufficient dry food, drinking water and medicine have been kept at the shelters,’  said Enamur Rahman, the state minister for disaster management.