Launch Services Halted On Five Routes From Dhaka

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended launch operations on five routes from Dhaka due to Cyclone Dana, which continued to gather strength in the east-central Bay of Bengal.

The directive was issued in a notice sent by the agency’s spokesman Ehteshamul Parvez on Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.

Launch services have been halted on the routes from Dhaka to Hatia, Betua, Aishbagh, Rangabali, and Char Montaz until further notice due to the issuance of cautionary signal No. 3 at maritime ports and No. 2 at river ports.

Additionally, single-engine water vehicles operations have also been halted.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, or BMD, Cyclone Dana has transformed into a severe cyclonic storm packing winds of 110 kmh as it bears down on the coast of India’s Odisha.

Bangladesh will escape the brunt of the cyclone, but coastal areas and other parts of the country may see more rain due to the storm's influence, the Met Office said.

Dana became a severe cyclone around 3am on Thursday. At 6am, it was located 595 km southwest of the Chattogram Port, 555 km southwest of the Cox’s Bazar Port, 485 km south of the Mongla Port, and 475 km south-southwest of the Payra Port.

The four maritime ports have been advised to keep local cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted.

The storm is likely to cross north Odisha and the West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island on Thursday night and early Friday morning, Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan said in a Facebook post, quoting the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Water Development Board.

The maximum wind speed during landfall of the severe storm is likely to be 100-120 kph.

Coastal rivers in the Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions are expected to rise about 0.5m above normal levels during the cyclone, according to Nazmul.

Very heavy rainfall (more than 88 mm) is likely to occur at places over the Khulna Division and heavy rainfall (44 to 88 mm) at places over Barishal Division from Thursday to Saturday due to the cyclone.