Cyclone 'Sitrang' is gaining momentum, with fears of 8-foot tidal surge

The sea is getting rougher as the time approaches. Cyclone Sitrang is bringing heavy rains and increasing wind speeds along the coast.

The cyclone, which is located in the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal, has moved further towards Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

The cyclone is likely to directly hit the Barisal coast tomorrow, Tuesday. The Meteorological Department said that due to its impact, the low-lying areas of the country's chars will be flooded with a tidal surge of 5-8 feet higher than the normal tide.

This alarm was raised in the Meteorological Department's special warning number 8 this Monday (October 24) morning.

The warning states that due to the influence of the cyclone's leading edge, new moon date and high air pressure difference, the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar and their nearby islands and chars may be inundated by wind-driven tidal surges 5-8 feet higher than normal tides.

As a result, the Meteorological Department has asked the Payra and Mongla seaports to lower warning signal number four and raise danger signal number seven.

Meteorologists say that due to the impact of the cyclone, moderate to heavy rain has started in most areas including the coast of Bangladesh. Along with this, gusty winds are blowing at a speed of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour. It may hit Bangladesh tomorrow morning.

The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and their offshore islands and chars will remain under the danger signal number 7 (seven). The seaports of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar have been asked to lower the local warning signal number 4 (four) and instead display the danger signal number 6 (six) (re:) 6 (six) danger signal.

The coastal districts of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars will remain under danger signal number 6 (six).