The gas disruption in Chattogram caused by a halt in production at the floating LNG terminal in the Bay of Bengal could last all week, distribution authorities said.
In a notice published on Sunday, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited said that it could take “up to 6-7 days” for the situation to return to normal.
The Floating Storage Regasification Units, on average, produce around 700 MMcf (million cubic feet) of gas from LNG every day.
According to KGDCL, at least 350 MMcf of gas is required daily for the port city’s households and businesses, as well as for the fertiliser factories and power stations, which are not connected to the national grid.
NO DAMAGE REPORTED YET
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman said the government did not receive reports of damage yet and the tidal surges were at a tolerable level.
In a press conference at the Secretariat, he said: “Around 8,500 people have taken refuge in 37 storm shelters on St Martin’s Island. Apart from that, more than 200,000 people took refuge in 576 storm shelters in Cox’s Bazar and another 500,000 at 1,024 shelters in Chattogram.”
He said preparations for this cyclone were most adequate among all the disasters over the past five years.
MONDAY’S SSC EXAMS SUSPENDED
Bangladesh suspended SSC and equivalent exams scheduled for Monday under all education boards due to the cyclone.
The announcement follows the suspension of Sunday’s exams across six education boards.
Tapan Kumar Sarker, chairman of the inter-education board coordination committee, on Sunday said: “The exams scheduled for Monday will be the same for all boards; hence we decided to postpone the exams for all boards instead of just six.”
CYCLONE MOCHA LOSING WIND SPEED
Cyclone Mocha has lost some strength as it nears landfall.
At noon on Sunday, the eye of the storm was 200 km south of Cox’s Bazar Port, 285 km south-southwest of Chattogram Sea Port, and 345 km south-southeast of Payra Port.
Within 74 km of the storm’s centre, maximum sustained winds ranged from 160-180 kph.
RIVERS OVERFLOWING IN SATKHIRA
The Kapotakkhya and Kholpatua rivers in Satkhira’s Shyamnagar and Ashashuni have seen water levels rise four feet higher than normal due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha.
As the cyclone began to cross the coast on Sunday, it also changed course slightly and brought relief to locals who were worried about inundation.
Padmapukur union council member Uttam Kumar said the people were worried of a repeat of the situation during cyclones Ayla and Amphan.
Repair work of the circular embankment in almost all areas of the Gabura Union, including Pashwemari, is proceeding, said Sirajul Islam, a rural healthcare worker in Gabura. “Therefore, you can’t call this union, which is a remote island, safe enough,” he said.
All departments of the district administration have been asked to be on alert, said Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Md Humayun Kabir.
RAIN, STRONG WIND ON ST MARTIN’S
The effects of Cyclone Mocha are being felt on St Martin’s Island in the Bay of Bengal.
Heavy rain fell in the area and meteorologists say wind speeds on the island have reached 50-55 kph. Cox’s Bazar town and the Teknaf coastal area are also experiencing showers and strong winds.