Rain, gusty wind paralyse life in Barisal, Patuakhali

Hundreds of peoples are marooned as vast areas have been inundated in low-lying parts of Barisal city and Patuakhali district town. Most rivers in the region are in spate.

Gusty winds rising up to 50 kilometres per hour have uprooted trees in many areas, snapping communication, reports from different areas said.

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Barisal weather office recorded 114 millimetres rainfall in last 27 hours from 9 am Friday to noon yesterday in Barisal city.

Most people in the city kept indoors and few transports were seen on roads yesterday. Shops in many areas remained closed due to the inclement weather.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has stopped plying of all motor launches up to 65 feet in length in coastal areas of Barisal, Jhalakati, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna and Pirojpur districts.

BIWTA Deputy Director Saiful Islam said they have temporarily banned plying of small launches from Barisal port after the meteorological department advised them to hoist cautionary signal no. 1 and 2 in ports in the area.

Rustam Ali Akon, office assistant of Barisal district relief and rehabilitation center, said they have sent messages to all Upazila Nirbahi Officers to asses the damage caused by the rain and gusty winds.Our Patuakhali correspondent said the local weather office recorded 181.3 millimeters rainfall from zero hours to 2 pm Saturday. It recorded gusty winds up to 40 kilometres per hour.

One persons was killed and five others were injured in lightning at Lohalia Kheya Ghat in Patuakhali Sadar upazila yesterday.

The gusty winds whipped up a tidal waves inundating Marich-bunia, Motherbunia, Awliapur, Joinkati areas of Patuakhali sadar upazila and parts of Kalapara, Baufal and Dashmina, Kuakata, Rangabali, Patharghata, Galachipa and Barguna.

Hundred of fishing trawlers have taken shelter in different canals and fishing ports at Alipur, Mohipur, Dhosh Khal and Patharghata.

Rain and storm continued when the report was filed yesterday evening.