Southern coastal areas inundated

The Post Office Road in Patuakhali town inundated by tidal water yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The meteorological department has issued cautionary signal no. 3 for seaports and signal no. 1 for river ports in the coastal areas, he said.

Fishing trawlers have been asked to stay at safe places for at least next 48 hours, the district administration and Barisal port authorities said.

About two-thirds area of Patuakhali town have been inundated by water as there is no protection embankment.

Ferry operation at Kalapara, Mohipur and Hazipur on Patuakhali-Kuakata highway is disrupted since Friday afternoon as gangways of terminals have gone under 5 to 6 feet water, BIWTA sources here said.

Over 100 families have become homeless as their houses went under water in Lalua village. Crops on about 3000 acres as about 300 meters of the flood control embankment at Ramnabad has been washed away, official sources said.

Low lying areas in Galachipa, Kalapara, Baufal, Dumki, Mirza-ganj, Sadar and Dashmina upazilas have gone under water.

About 40,000 people in Char Ganga, Lata Chapli in Kalapara; Char Halim, Char Agunmukha, Char Karforma and Char Bangla in Galachipa; Ramgopaldi, Khalisha-khali and Alipura in Dashmina; Muradia in Dumki and North Badura in the Patuakhali Sadar upazila have been affected.

Meteorologist Prodip Chandra at Kalapara radar station said a monsoon depression has been created on the south-western Bay. It was centred at about 350 kilometers from Mongla coast yesterday noon.