Drizzling, accompanied by gusty wind, has started in St Martin’s Island and nearby Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar soon after the cyclonic storm Mocha started crossing Bangladesh’s coast on Sunday morning, reports UNB.
Around 90 per cent people of the island have already taken shelter in hotels, motels and cyclone centres, said Md Kamruzzaman, Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer, adding that the rest are reluctant to come to shelters leaving their valuables.
Tidal surges in the coastal areas are yet to start, he said, adding that the gusty wind in the island is getting stronger gradually.
The rest of the upazilas of Cox’s Bazar are also experiencing drizzling along with light gusty wind.
Muhammad Shaheen Imran, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, said some 2 lakh people are at 576 cyclone centres where over 5.5 million people can be accommodated.
Urging people to stay in the cyclone centres, he said they took all-out preparations to protect lives and properties.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
