Cyclone Mocha pummels Bangladesh, a whole lot left homeless

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Although there are not any tales of casualties in Bangladesh attributable to Cyclone Mocha, some coastal areas of Saint Martin and Teknaf have been considerably affected. Nearly 2,500 properties on the island of Saint Martin have been destroyed and a whole lot are homeless.

The authorities officer of the Teknaf upazila, Kamruzzaman, talked about, “In the Sabrang Union, thousands of homes and structures were damaged on the islands of St. Martin and Shahpari. Among them, 2,500 houses on the island have been destroyed.”

Some properties have been totally damaged, some partially. The wind has broken timber and dirt properties on the island. But there was no tide.

Earlier, Cyclone Mocha hit the coast of Saint Martin spherical 3 pm, the chief of the district meteorological office talked about.

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“Various infrastructures, including houses and trees, in those areas have been destroyed. But after the hit, the fear of great danger has passed. There is no possibility of more damage than what has been done,” meteorologist Abdur Rahman talked about.

Abdus Salam, a member of the Sabrang Union of Shahpari Island in Teknaf, talked about, “My entire area is surrounded by the Naf River. There are more than 600 houses. Among them, more than 400 houses have been destroyed by the cyclone. About one and a half thousand people are homeless. They need urgent government assistance.”

Champa Begum, a resident of Jalia Para on the banks of the Naf River, talked about, “After the storm started, I went to the shelter with my family. I looked back and saw the houses around were destroyed. Now I don’t know where to take shelter.”

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Another resident of the neighborhood Amin talked about, “I have never seen such a storm before. Everyone in the neighborhood was in panic. I was safe in the shelter. God saved us. But looking back in the neighborhood, houses have been broken. Many houses have been washed away. Now I am helpless.”

Referring to the damage inside the district, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran talked about, “10,000 houses in the district have been destroyed. Over 200 of these are partial and the rest are totally damaged. Saint Martin was the worst-hit. 1,200 houses of this island have been destroyed. No casualty has been reported so far.”

After visiting plenty of the affected areas, native journalist Shahjan Chowdhury instructed India Today TV that plenty of timber and houses have been destroyed in St. Martin, Teknaf Sadar, Paur area, Sabrang, Dailpara, Jadimura, Konarpara and Galachipa areas. The roofs of properties have flown away in these areas, he talked about, together with that locals have been seen eradicating timber from the streets.

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Some residents of St. Martin’s Union talked about it is nonetheless raining inside the area. Magherpara, Konarpara, Galachipa, Dakshinpara, Paschimpara and Uttarpara have seen plenty of damage due to the destruction of properties and timber. Several of us have been injured.

Chairman of Saint Martin Union Parishad Mujibur Rahman talked about, “The storm caused extensive damage to the coastal area of Saint Martin. Houses have been destroyed and trees uprooted.”

“Thousands of locals are homeless. For now, they will be staying in shelters. They will be able to go to their own homes after they are repaired,” he talked about.

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“At least 1,800 trees have been damaged. 10 people have been injured. Among them, one woman is undergoing treatment at St. Martin’s Hospital. At present the wind speed has decreased in St. Martin, while light rain is continuing,” Mujibur talked about, quoting the locals.

Abdur Rahman, the chief meteorologist of the district meteorological office, talked about, “The cyclone crossed the Bangladesh coast and changed course towards Myanmar at around 3 pm. There is nothing to fear now. The impact of the storm will continue. As it weakens, the effect is reduced.”

Cyclone Mocha has weakened after impression. The menace of important hazard has handed and there isn’t any hazard of flooding on the coast.

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