Bangladesh Braces For Cyclone Sidr

Cyclone Sidr Tracking Map Toward Bangladesh

With a very severe cyclonic storm likely to cross the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast near the Sagar Islands by Friday, people living in coastal areas of West Bengal were alerted by the administration on Wednesday.

State Home Secretary P. R .Roy said the cyclone which lay centred north of Andaman Islands changed direction towards coastal areas of the state and Bangladesh.

The highest alert has been raised over the imminent arrival of Cyclone Sidr, expected to hit at high tide late this evening on the west coast of Bangladesh. There is a possibility that Cyclone Sidr will hit as a category four or three, with devastating results.

Authorities have deployed more than 40,000 personnel, including police, troops, coastguards and health workers on the shoreline to warn and evacuate the people. An estimated 10 million people live in the areas, with major concerns that the storm shelters in the area are sufficient for only half a million.

• Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr Information Bulletin No. 1 >
• Cyclone alert in West Bengal >
• Storm lashes Bangladesh island, thousands evacuated >
• Bangladesh villagers stream inland as tropical cyclone approaches >