Water vessel operations suspended as cyclone Yaas nears

With cyclonic storm Yaas moving towards the coast, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended all passenger vessel traffic on river routes to curb damage from the cyclone.  

The BIWTA issued a notice in this regard on Tuesday, saying the directive will remain in effect until further notice.

The cyclone is now moving in a northwesterly direction and is supposed to make landfall in coastal areas tomorrow afternoon.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number 3.

It was hovering over the northwest bay and was centred at 3pm Tuesday,  about 555 km southwest of Chattogram port, 520 km southwest of Cox's Bazer port, 425 km south-southwest of Mongla port, and 420 km south-southwest of Payra port.

A bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the cyclone is likely to move further northwest and may cross the North Odisha-West Bengal coast by tomorrow noon.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the cyclone centre is about 89 kph rising to 117 kph in gusts.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to shelter until further notice.