Cyclone Bulbul: B'desh authorities issue the most severe storm alert

The weather office in Dhaka issued the most severe storm alert on November 09 as Cyclone Bulbul is expected to hit Bangladesh's vast southwestern and southern coast. The authorities of the nation have reportedly put 50,000 volunteers on standby and the Disaster Management Minister Enamul Haque says that the offices have suspended work in 13 coastal districts. All activities in the country's main seaports including Chittagong has also been suspended. The authorities have reportedly also opened thousands of shelters. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also predicted that the cyclone 'Bulbul' is very likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coast by midnight of November 9. The coasts will also experience severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 Kmph gusting to 135 Kmph. 

READ: Cyclone Bulbul Intensifies; NCMC Holds Meeting To Review Preparedness

NCMC Holds Meeting To Review Preparedness

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Friday held a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba in order to review the preparedness to deal with severe cyclone 'Bulbul' over the Bay of Bengal. In the NCMC meeting, officials of the West Bengal and Odisha government stated that they have made the necessary preparations required by them. They informed that SDRF and Fire Service teams have been positioned, whereas fishing operations have also been suspended and the people living in low lying areas are being evacuated to shelter homes. 

"14 teams of NDRF have been positioned, additional teams are being deployed at the request of states. Officials of Ministry of Defence intimated that teams of Coast Guard, Indian Navy are already deployed and Army and Air Force are on standby," a press release by the Government of India added. 

READ: Cyclone 'Bulbul' Intensifies; Rain Pounds Parts Of West Bengal, Odisha

PM Modi expresses concern

Earlier on Thursday, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra held a high-level meeting on Thursday with the Chief Secretaries of Odisha, West Bengal and Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to review their preparedness to deal with the natural calamity. This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concern over the situation in light of cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’. The meeting was attended by the Principal Advisor to the Prime Minister; Secretaries of Home Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting; Member, NDMA, Directors General of India Meteorological Department and NDRF; and senior officers from PMO, Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence. Chief Secretaries and representatives from West Bengal, Odisha, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands joined the meeting through video conference. 

READ: IMD: Odisha, West Bengal To Receive Heavy Rainfall Due To "Bulbul"

READ: Cyclone Bulbul To Miss Andaman And Nicobar Islands, Says NDRF