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Nargis gathers strength, moves slowly

Staff Correspondent
Almost stationary in the Bay, cyclone Nargis has gathered more strength, intensifying into a "severe cyclonic storm", and is moving north very slowly. It may hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.
A Met Office special bulletin said yesterday evening that Nargis was lying over west central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay 1,155km from Chittagong coast. 1090km away from Cox's Bazarand 1,030km from Mongla coast with minimum sustained wind speed between 90kmph and 120kmph within the 54km radius of its centre.
The first cyclonic storm since the deadly Sidr, Nargis is likely to intensify further. "It is too early to comment about when and where the storm will hit. At this stage, a cyclonic storm frequently changes its course," said Arzumand Habib, director of Dhaka Meteorological Office. "But probably it is going to hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast," she said.
The Met Office said they will confirm today the possible time and place of the hit.
It already declared Nargis as a severe cyclonic stornt since its wind speed crossed 89kmph. If the wind speed Crosses 120kmph, the storm will be categorised as "very severe" and if the wind speed crosses 150kmph, it will be labelled as "hurricane wind", the Met Office sources said.
Maritime ports in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been asked to keep hoisting distant signal No. 2.
The Met Office warned that the sea will be rough over the North Bay and advised all fishing boats and trawlers to stay close to the coast until further notice.
Over 3,000 people were killed in cyclone Sidr last November while over thousand have still remained missing. The cyclone with a wind speed of 210kmph also caused damage to huge assets and crops and millions of people lost their livelihood while many have not yet been able to rebuild their homes.
Meanwhile, panic gripped people as soon as they heard about forming of cyclone Nargis.
Our correspondent in Chinagong reports: Local administration at all coastal areas of the district was put on alert yesterday.
"Although cyclone Nargis is still over 1,100km away from Bangladesh coast, we have started making preparations to face its dangers and save lives and properties," Abdul Halim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said yesterday afternoon.
He said administration in the upazilas is alerting people at Mirersari, Sitakunda, Sandwip, Anwara, Banshkhali, Chandanaish andSatkania.
Sources meanwhile alleged that most of around 403 cyclone shelters in Chittagong have long been lying uncared for.
The number of cyclone shelters is
also inadequate to provide shelter to over 7 lakh people living in the coastal belt of Chittagong, the sources said, adding that the district administration has, however, sent a proposal to the higher authorities for setting up around 70 more cyclone shelters
Our Patuakhali correspondent reports: Hundreds of fishing trawlers started taking shelters at different points along the coast including Mohipur. Kuakata, Galachipa, Rangabali and Sonar Char as the sea has already become very rough.
The district administration said they are ready to face the impact of cyclone Nargis, if any.
The district administrators in Khulna and Bagerhat have also taken precautionary measures, reports our correspondent in Khulna. Field workers of all NGOs in the district have also been kept on alert to face any circumstance and carry out rescue operation.
Panic has gripped people of Sharankhola and Morelganj upazilas where the inhabitants are yet to recover from the devastation of cyclone Sidr.