Flood situation worsens in 7 districts
The flood situation has worsened in Lalmonirhat, Sylhet, Sherpur, Bogura, Netrakona, Habiganj and Rangpur districts due to heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream, rendering many people homeless.
In Lalmonirhat, 25,000 families remained marooned as many villages in five upazilas of the district went under water with the Teesta and Dharla continuing to swell.
The Teesta River was flowing 25cm above the danger level at Doani point while 52.85cm at Dalia point and 17cm at Kulaghat point on Friday morning, said Deputy Divisional Engineer of Water Development Board at Dalia Hafizur Rahman.
He said the Dharla River was flowing 17cm above the danger level at Kulaghat point.
Embankments at Mohiskhocha in Aditmari upazila and Dhubni in Hatibanda upazila broke down following gushing water of the Teesta. Besides, the flood snapped communications in many areas as roads went under water.
The flood-affected unions in the five upazilas include Dahagram, Saniazan, Goddimari, Sindurna, Patikapara, Dauabari, Singimari, Bhotmari, Kakina, Mohishkhocha, Khuniyagachh, Rajpur, Gokunda, Kulaghata and Mogalhat.
The victims alleged that they were leading a miserable life for the last three days for want of any relief from the government.
Khadem Ali of Chhoyani village in Goddimari said they were yet to get any relief from anyone.
Deputy Commissioner Abu Jafar visited several flood-hit areas and allocated 68 tonnes of rice for the victims.
Meanwhile, the authorities concerned urged people living by the riverbanks to take shelter in safe places.
In Sylhet, several thousand people of 100 villages under six upazilas remained marooned after torrential rains over the last few days led to the flooding in Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintiapur, Kanaighat, Fenchuganj and Balaganj.
Meanwhile, the flood forced over 100 schools in the upazilas to suspend academic activities.
Several thousand workers remained unemployed after stone quarries in Bholaganj, Dhalai, Bihchanakandi and Jaflong were shut down temporarily following the flood.
Campaniganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bijen Banerjee said they visited different flood-affected villages and prepared all the cyclone centres in upazila to face the situation.
The upazila priashad is also ready to face the flood while a medical team has been formed to serve the affected people, he said.
Gowainghat UNO Bishwajit Kumar Paul said following the rise in water in different areas, they contacted the local relief and disaster management committee. "All union parishad chairmen were directed to submit reports on the flood condition. Measures will be taken according to the reports."
According to the WDB control room in Sylhet, the Surma was flowing 111 cm above the danger level in Kanaigaht while 36 cm above the red mark in the city, the Kushiara was flowing 123 cm above the danger level at Shewla while 69 cm at Amolshid and the Sari River was flowing 20 cm above the danger level.
WDB Executive Engineer Muhammad Shahiduzzaman said all the rivers here were flowing above the danger levels.
Rain is likely to continue for the next 24 hours according to the Met office, he said, adding that the flood condition might worsen further in the next few hours.
Our Sherpur correspondent reports: The flood situation in Jhenaigati upazila deteriorated on Friday due to the rise in the water level of the Mrigi River.
The erosion by the river in Nakla upazila has also turned serious as many dwelling houses went into it. Nakla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Jahidur Rahman visited the affected areas and instructed the locals to remain alert.
At least 40 villages in five unions in Jhenaigati were submerged by floodwater, UNO Rubel Mahmud said.
In Netrakona, 15 unions of Durgapur, Barhatta and Kalmakanda upazilas were flooded due to heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream, leaving at least 50,000 people with nowhere to go.
Water entered over 100 schools in the three upazilas while several local bazaars in Pachgaon, Lengura, Borokhapon and Charalkona were submerged by floodwater.
Netrakona DC Mainul Islam said 20 tonnes of relief were allocated for the flood victims of Kalmakanda and Durgapur.
In Bogura, although the Jamuna River was flowing 1 metre below the red sign, many areas of six unions in Sariakandi upazila were flooded following incessant rains and hilly onrush.
Aush paddy, aman seedbeds and vegetables were damaged due to the flood.
Locals said houses were being eroded by the mighty river at Teligari and Shimuldair villages.
Our Habiganj correspondent reports: The Kushiara River was flowing 34cm above the danger level in Nabiganj of the district.
The river water is only 1 feet beneath the river protection embankment at Parkul, posing threat to Bibiyana Power Plant.
The local WDB office fears that the power plant might be affected if the water level continues to rise.
However, the WDB Executive Engineer said they were trying to protect the dam placing sand bags.
In Rangpur, some 5,000 families were marooned as the swelling Teesta inundated chars and low-lying areas in Gangachhara upazila.
Floodwater inundated villages under Laxmitary, Kolkond, Mornia, Gojghonta, Nohali, Alambiditor and Sadar unions of the upazila.
The shortage of food and drinking water mounted the sufferings of the flood victims, said locals.
The Teesta was flowing 22 cm above the danger level at Kaunia point in Kaunia on Friday, said the local WDB officials.
The deputy commissioner of Rangpur Asib Ahasan who visited the flood-affected areas in Laxmitary union assured the flood victims of quickly assistance.
Gangachhara UNO Taslim Begum said chars and low-lying areas of Laxmitary, Gojghonta and Alambiditor unions were inundated by floodwater, rendering some 1000 families marooned.
Dry food was distributed among 850 flood victims on behalf of the upazila administration, she said, adding that they were making a list of the affected people.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Friday said 17,550 tonnes of rice and Tk 2.95 crore have been allocated to face the flood situation in all the 64 districts.
The ministry has taken all necessary measures for disaster management in the flood-hit districts, he said while addressing an Inter-Ministerial Disaster Management Committee meeting at the Secretariat.
Dr Enamur Rahman said 26 points have been identified as very risky while 602 others as risky in northern, northeastern and southeastern regions.
He said 200 tonnes of rice were sent to the flood-hit areas in the first phase and another 300 tonnes in the second phase.
The state minister further said 2,000 packets of dry food were sent to each district while several medical teams are on the field to tackle water-borne diseases.
Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers and other officers concerned were monitoring the flood situation under the central control room at the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, he said.
