At least one person was reported dead as of 9:30pm on Sunday as the severe cyclonic storm Remal caused coastal flooding and structural damage, snapping embankments and streets after making landfall in the evening.

As the cyclone crossed India’s Sagar Island and Bangladesh’s Khepupara coast near Mongla around 6pm on the day, numerous embankments, houses, streets, and structures in the coastal belt were affected by the gusty winds and tidal surges, which reached up to 3-4 metres above the astronomical tide.

It might take 5-6 hours to cross the entire coastal area.

Meteorologist Dr Shameem Hassan Bhuiyan at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said at 9pm on Sunday, “Cyclone Remal has made landfall in Bangladesh, crossing Patuakhali’s Khepupara area and West Bengal’s Sagar Island with rain and strong stormy winds. The front part of the cyclone started hitting the coastal areas in Bangladesh at 6pm and the central part at 8:30pm on Sunday.

“The eye of the cyclonic storm is scheduled to cross Bangladesh between 12am and 1am on Monday, after which the cyclone is expected to weaken,” he added.

Causality and damages
In Patuakhali, a fisherman died after being flooded by a storm surge in Kalapara upazila, and so far, 20 villages of remote Rangabali upazila have been affected by the storm surge since the evening under the influence of the cyclonic storm.

The fisherman – Shariful Islam, 27 – was swept away by the storm surge in the Kawar Char area of Dhulasar union of the upazila while on his way to bring his sister and aunt to the shelter centre around noon on Sunday. Locals recovered his body from the Asakhali area at 2:30pm.

Rangabali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mizanur Rahman told reporters that the embankment was already broken in Chalitabunian, while the storm surge damaged the embankment in many places in Charmantaj.

“Most areas of wards no 7, 8, and 9 of the union have been flooded. We are making arrangements to take the stranded people to the shelters quickly,” he said.

In Bagerhat including Sundarbans, many low-lying areas near the riverbank have been inundated, with around 200 houses flooded as river water of the districts has crossed the danger level due to the effect of the cyclone storm.

More than two hundred houses in the riverside areas of district Sadar, Morelganj, Sharankhola, Mongla, and Rampal upazilas were flooded on Sunday afternoon, the district administration said.

Remal’s Impact
Abu Raihan Mohammad Al-Biruni, executive engineer of Bagerhat Water Development Board, said, “Due to the impact of the cyclone, the water of the main rivers of Bagerhat has been flowing over danger level since Sunday afternoon. The water has increased the most in the Pashur River in Mongla upazila of the district.”

“The water flowed 5 feet above the flood limit in this river of Mongla port in the afternoon. The river water has been flowing two to three feet above the danger level Baleshwar and Bhairav rivers,” he said.
Local sources say the river water overflowed and entered houses in the locality since the afternoon. Residents of Maria Palli said that a tidal surge has overflowed the dam.

Hill districts may witness landslides
Due to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Chattogram.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelters till further notice.

Great danger signal 10 in 2 ports, 9 districts
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into the cyclone Remal on Saturday evening. The gusty wind and rains started battering the coastal areas Sunday morning.

BMD hoisted great danger signal no. 10 for Payra and Mongla ports in the morning.

Besides, the coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakhati, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, and Patuakhali and adjacent islands and chars also were under great danger signal No. 10.

Besides, Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram ports were advised to hoist the great danger signal No. 9. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Chandpur and nearby islands and chars were under the great danger signal no. 9.

Leave of all government officials cancelled
The leave of officials of all ministries, divisions, and subordinate offices has been cancelled to tackle the possible aftermath of the Remal. The leave of electricity workers in coastal areas also has been cancelled.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman announced it after the inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat on Sunday.
A director of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) told newsmen that the power supply of 25,69,500 customers of 14 rural Palli Bidyut Samity has been stopped due to the impact of cyclone.

Evacuation drive
Over 8 lakh people have been evacuated to shelters as the Remal approaches the Bangladesh coast, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman.
Following an inter-ministerial cyclone management meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday, he urged residents of 16 coastal districts to promptly seek shelter at cyclone shelters for their safety.

He said, “We have made all preparations to deal with the disaster. We have the capacity and experience. If everyone follows the instructions, we hope that we will be able to deal with this disaster successfully as before.”

The state minister said 7,000 to 8,000 shelters are ready to provide shelter to people. Adequate dry food, biscuits, water and medical supplies have reached all the shelters,” he said, adding the armed forces are also ready.