Chittagong administration has taken all the necessary preparations to minimise possible casualties and damages from cyclone ‘Mora’.

It has asked the residents of all coastal upazilas to take shelter in nearby cyclone shelters or safe places as maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to hoist great danger signal number 10 since the cyclonic storm is likely to cross the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by Tuesday morning, reports UNB.

The directives came from an emergency coordination meeting of the disaster management committee at the DC office.

A Red Crescent team, law enforcers and others concerned attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Zillur Rahman said the administration has decided to keep all schools, colleges and government offices of the district open so that people can take shelter there.

Besides, all cyclone centres in the district have already opened, he said, adding that a control room (031-634883) has been opened to monitor the situation.

The DC said they have started evacuating people living in hills risking their lives.

At the meeting, Civil Surgeon Dr M Azizur Rahman Siddiqui said they have cancelled the leave of all physicians and nurses of all hospitals in the district. ‘All doctors and nurses have been asked to remain present in their respective offices until further notice.’

He also said they have formed 16-25 medical teams in every upazila of the district to provide treatment in emergency case.

Meanwhile, seven community radio stations, operational in the coastal region of the country, are now continuously broadcasting different items to keep people aware of weather updates and required preparedness works to face the cyclonic storm ‘Mora’.

Already the stations broadcast 25 hours’ programmmes regarding the upcoming cyclone storm Mora in line with the government’s standing orders on disaster, said AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).

‘Mora’, formed over the east-central Bay and adjoining North Bay, moved slightly northwards over North Bay and adjoining east central Bay and may cross Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by Tuesday morning.

The coastal districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will also come under the danger signal number 10, according to the latest Met office bulletin.

Besides, the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted the danger signal number 8. The coastal districts of Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and char areas will come under the danger signal number 8.