Preparations underway to deal with cyclone 'Ashani'

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr M Enamur Rahman said that almost all kinds of preparations have been taken to fight cyclone 'Ashani'.

"We had set up more than 14,000 shelter centers during Amphan, this time we can also use the shelter centers where more than 2.4 million people can stay and we also have that capacity to deal with 'Ashani'... I hope we can deal with this too," he said.

The state minister told reporters after a meeting on pre-cyclone preparedness at the secretariat today.

"A cyclonic system developed near the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. This may be converted to light pressure by May 9. We call it 'low pressure'. Then gradually it can take the form of obvious pressure or low pressure," he said.

Then on May 11, it is likely to change from low pressure to deep depression and cyclone, he mentioned. 

If there is a cyclone, then it will be named 'Ashani', he said, adding that its landfall has not been calculated yet. “Details will be known after the formation of depression and cyclone,” he said.

Later, if a warning signal is given, an inter-ministerial meeting will be held and the instructions would be given at the field level, he added.

"Our CPP (Cyclone Preparedness Programme) volunteers have been informed. They are working in the coastal areas, we have been told what to do according to the SOD we have. We are all alert now. Later, action will be taken according to the cyclone situation," he said.

The secretary of the ministry and senior officials were present, reports BSS.