Barisal Port Authority has restricted plying of ML (motor launch) type launches and other small water transports up to 65 feet in length in 29 routes of Barisal region until further order.
The step was taken after weather department asked river-port authorities to hoist cautionary weather signal no. 2 from Sunday morning following the low created over North Bay and its adjoining area persists and, under its influence, deep convection is taking place over the coastal region, said Abul Bashar Mazumdar, Deputy Director, Pilot and Conservancy Department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity .
Ashraf Hossain, Deputy Director BIWTA said, River Port Authority has stopped plying of ML type motor launches less than 65 feet length and other small water transports due to adverse weather and rough river condition in the region since Sunday morning.
However triple deck Barisal-Dhaka bound launches also asked to ply cautiously, Lokman Hossain, river traffic inspector and Sharif Afzal Hossain, Barisal port officer added.
The city-sky became cloudy all over the day with light to mid-range raining taking intervals.
Cloudy weather and light to mid rainfall with 10-15 Km per hour wind speed reported from different areas of Barisal district and Barisal met office recorded 97 mm rain fall in Barisal city and adjacent areas in last 72 hours till 3:00 pm Sunday.
Squally weather may affect the maritime ports and coastal areas of Bangladesh with roughness and high tidal bore than usual time due to low and coastal areas hoisted weather signal no.3 and recorded 229 ml rainfall in last 72-hour till 3:00 pm Sunday at Kalapara said Prodip Kumar, officer of Kalapara weather radar station.
The low lying areas of the coastal and offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 6 to 8 feet, under influence of low, Prodip Kumar cautioned.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice, the port and weather officials informed.
Road communications with Kuakata tourist zone often disrupted as ferry gangways went under water and bad conditions of connecting roads.
Officials of Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) of Barisal Red Crescent Unit, said regular wireless contact with their units on different shore, off shore, coastal islands and shoals, are maintaining and they informed that conditions of river estuaries and sea were very rough with high waves and strong tides and gusty winds since morning.
On other hand Shamsul Islam, a staff of Water Development Board Hydrology Department said, Kirtonkhola river n Barisal port point flowing only 0.45 centimeter below of danger point.
Already low lands, shoals and areas on river, canal and other open water resources crated fresh flood in different parts of the region including Barisal city areas, said WDB and local administration sources.
S M Arif Ur Rahman, deputy commissioner Barisal, said upazila nirbahi officers and Disaster, Relief Management Department informed that rivers of the region still not crossed the danger level although low lying areas on river banks, water bodies engulfed by flash flood and they monitoring the situation.