Seventeen ships of Bangladesh Navy, two Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and two helicopters have completed all necessary preparations for deployment in Chittagong, Khulna and Mongla naval areas for emergency rescue, relief and medical assistance after Cyclone Sitrang.
These ships have already been prepared with relief materials to provide emergency rescue, relief and medical assistance to the sea and coastal areas as soon as possible. In addition, naval contingents have been kept ready for deployment in post-cyclone coastal areas, says an Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) directorate on Monday evening.
Search and rescue operations will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal based on the information provided by the Navy’s MPA and helicopters in conducting rescue operations in sea and coastal affected areas after the cyclone Sitrang.
In the first phase, BNS Samuddra Abhijan will be engaged in Cox’s Bazar, St. Martin and Teknaf areas, BNS Padma in Kutubdia and outer anchor areas, BNS Hatia and LCT 103-Sandip in Hatia adjoining areas, LCVP-12 in Patuakhali area and LCVP- 12 in Pirojpur and Barguna areas.
Besides, BNS Sadhinata, BNS Prottasha, BNS Prottoy, BNS Daleshori and BNS Nirmul are ready for conducting search and emergency search and rescue operation. Besides, BNS Adammo, Atandra, Dudharsha and Durdanta and Dhansiri has been kept ready in Pagla of Narayanganj.
Special medical teams will be engaged in providing free medical services with life-saving medicines, saline and other materials for emergency medical assistance in post-cyclone affected areas. Navy ships and contingents will be deployed in the second phase after monitoring the storm’s intensity and incidence of injuries.
Sitrang is likely to intensify further, move in a north-northeasterly direction and cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Khepupara by midnight Monday or early morning Tuesday, said the latest Met office bulletin.
Source: United News of Bangladesh