Misery befalls flood victims

Staff Reporter

Flash floods have damaged vast areas of cropland and washed away houses, cattle and other valuables, leaving millions of people in the country’s north-eastern, northern and central regions in utter distress.

Sufferings of the flood-hit people in these areas continue to mount due to a lack of food and pure drinking water, locals said, adding that government relief is too little to meet their needs.

At least five people died from drowning and snake bites on Tuesday, according to a DGHS report.

The death toll from the flood in different parts of the country reached 42 between May 17 and June 22, said a report of DGHS.

The fatalities occurred due to lightning strikes, diarrhoea, skin diseases, snakebite, electrocution, landslides and drowning.

Of the deceased, five people died in Mymensingh district, five in Netrokona, five in Jamalpur and three in Sherpur, one in Lalmonirhat, two in Kurigram, 13 in Sylhet, five in Sunamganj and three in Moulvibazar district, it said.

One week has passed since the floods hit different parts of the country but the situation is yet to improve due to the huge onrush of upstream water.

Roads, government and private organisations and educational institutions in many places have been marooned by the flood water. Educational institutions in the worst-affected areas have been declared closed due to floodwater.

Some people have been evacuated from several flood-hit areas while many others remain stranded.

“The Brahmaputra River is in a steady state, while the Jamuna and the Padma rivers are in a rising trend. The water level in all the major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country is in a falling trend, except the Kushiyara and Titas,” said Md Arifuzzaman Bhuyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC).

The flood situation in the Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts may improve, but the situation in Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria may slightly deteriorate in the next 24 hours, he said.

The flood situation in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura and Jamalpur may remain steady while the situation in Sirajganj and Tangail districts may deteriorate slightly in the next 24 hours, added the official.

“According to the numerical weather forecast of meteorological agencies, heavy to very heavy rainfall inside Bangladesh and different upstream Indian regions is less unlikely,” he said, adding that the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and all the major rivers of the north-eastern region of the country (except the Teesta) may fall, while the water level in the Ganges-Padma river may rise in the next 24 hours.

“In the next 24 hours, the water level of Teesta River may fall, while the Dharla and the Dudkumar rivers may remain steady. There is a chance of short-duration flood in the low-lying area of Shariatpur and Madaripur districts in next 24 hours,” according to FFWC.

A total of 11 rivers were following above danger level at 21 points on the day, it said.

The Brahmaputra River was flowing 60, 52, 103 and 18cm above the danger level at Fulchari, Chilmari, Hatia and Noonkhawa points.

The Jamuna River was flowing 57, 64, 61, 50 and 45cm above the danger level at Bahadurabad, Sriakandi, Kazipur, Serajganj and Porabari points.

Surma River was flowing 100, 31 and 12cm above the danger level at Kanaighat, Sylhet and Sunamganj points.

Dharla River was flowing 41cm above the danger level at Kurigram, Ghagot was 42cm above at Gaibandha, Atrai was 3cm above at Baghbari, Kushiyara was 191 and 66 cm above at Amalshid and Sheola, Baulai was 50cm above at Khaliajuri, Someswari was 73cm above at Kalmakanda and Titas was flowing 13cm above the danger level at Brahmanbaria point.

At least six people died from drowning on Wednesday, according to the Health Emergency Operation Centre & Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

“Three people died from drowning in Sylhet, two in Jamalpur and one in Netrokona district,” it said.