Rains throw normal life out of gear
Dhaka: Incessant rains triggered by tropical cyclone 'Komen' on Friday pounded many parts of the country, mainly the southern districts, throwing the normal life in disarray.
However, the storm, packing wind speeds of 60-70 kmph, crossed Chittagong and Noakhali coasts without causing any serious damage.
Light to moderate rains were reported from the southern region and some other parts of the country, including the capital, from Thursday night and that continued till Friday afternoon. The situation started improving after 3pm in most areas as the storm weakened.
Some low-lying areas in Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Feni and Noakhali got submerged while several hundred thatched houses were damaged and many trees uprooted as the storm hit the areas.
The cyclone crossed the coast near Sandwip and Noakhali, and the adjoining areas as a land depression, according to the Met Office.
‘The land depression over Noakhali and adjoining area moved slightly west-northwestwards and now lies over central part of Bangladesh near Faridpur. It's likely to move west-northwestwards further inland and weaken gradually by giving precipitation,’ said a Met office bulletin in the evening.
The Met Office also lowered the danger signal No. 7 to cautionary signal No. 3 for Chittagong and Cox's Bazar maritime ports.
Water vessels movement which was suspended throughout the country on Thursday due to the inclement weather caused by 'Komen' resumed on Friday as the cyclone has weakened.
The Met Office, however, asked fishing boats and ships at sea to move to safer places until the afternoon.
In the capital, light to moderate rain continued for several hours since early Friday, forcing many city dwellers to remain indoors and pass their weekend idly.
Poor people, particularly those living in slums and low laying areas, were the worst sufferers as the rainwater swamped their shanties.
Meanwhile, the second day's play in the second and final Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium was washed out due to the rain.
As the rain continued till the afternoon, match officials called off play for day 2 of the 2nd Test between the two countries.
The Met Office recorded 22mm of rain in the capital in six hours from 6am. The highest rainfall of 71mm was recorded in Chuadanga during the period.
It also recorded 60mm rainfall in Chittagong, while 27mm in Cox's Bazar, 10mm at Teknaf, 39mm in Mymensingh, 40mm in Ishwardi, 33mm in Tangail, 21mm in Faridpur, 20mm in Maijdee Court and 18mm in Rangamati from 6:00am to 3:00pm on Friday.
The Met Office said moderately heavy to very heavy rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at some places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and moderately heavy rainfall at many places elsewhere over the country in the next 24 hours till 6:00pm Saturday.
Our Cox's Bazar Correspondent reports: The Saint Martin Island got disconnected from the mainland due to flood caused by the tidal surge.
Nearly 8,000 people in the Island were having a tough time for lack of supply of food, mainly vegetables, from the main land.
Flood situation also deteriorated in Ramu, Kutubdia, Chakaria and Pekua due to tidal surge and incessant rain under the influence of the storm.
Several hundred thatched houses were damaged and some trees were uprooted in the district during the storm.
According to UNB Noakhali correspondent, 12 villages at Musapur and Char Elahi of Companyganj and Jahazmara-Nalchira of Hatia were submerged due to heavy rains under the influence of Komen.
Over a hundred thatched houses and many trees were also damaged in the low-lying areas.
UNB Bandarban correspondent adds: The low-lying areas of the district town have been inundated due to the ceaseless rain for the last two days.
Bandarban Police officer-in-charge Md Imtiaj Ahmed said the low-lying areas of Islampur, Madhyampara, Ujanipara, and Hafejghona and Kashempur were submerged due to heavy rains.