Flooding worsens as major rivers continue to swell
The flood situation in Bogra, Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts worsened further yesterday as the major rivers continued to swell.
Around 100 villages in five upazilas of Bogra were flooded as water levels of the Jamuna and Bangalee are on increase in the areas, reports our correspondent.
The affected upazilas are Sariakandi, Sonatola, Dhunat, Adamdighi and Shibganj.
At least 1.2 lakh people in the upazilas have been marooned as Jamuna and Bangalee rivers were flowing 73 and 42 centimetres above the danger marks in the last four days, said local Water Development Board (WDB) sources.
The flood-hit people, who took shelter on the flood control embankment, are suffering due to acute crisis of food, pure drinking water and fodder.
About 13,000 hectares of cropland have been damaged due to the floods, said Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources.
At least 97 schools in the areas were badly affected as floodwater entered the institutions, said District Primary Education Officer Hossain Ali.
The district administration has distributed 130 tonnes of rice and Tk 8.75 lakh among the flood victims, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Khorshed Alam.
Our Gaibandha correspondent reports: Due to heavy rain and onrush of water from upstream, the rivers continued to swell, inundating at least 367 villages in seven upazilas of the district.
The upazilas are Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari, Saghata, Gobindaganj, Palashbari and Sadullapur.
According to WDB, the Brahmaputra, Ghagot, Karotoa and Teesta were flowing 48, 56, 20 and 24 cm above the danger marks in the last 24 hours.
At least two lakh and 70 thousand people still remained marooned in different remote areas, said the district administration sources.
Boats and banana tree rafts are the lone mode of communication in the flood-hit areas as the roads in remote areas went under floodwater, said locals.
Away in Jamalpur, with inundation of 49 more unions in seven upazilas, flood situation in the district deteriorated yesterday, reports our correspondent.
The Jamuna was flowing 63 cm above the danger mark at Bahadurabad ghat point in the last 24 hours, leaving over two lakh people marooned, said local WDB sources.
The authorities already shut 140 educational institutions due to the floods, said District Primary Education Office and District Education Office sources.
About 12,963 hectares of croplands in the areas went under water, said Dr Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of DAE in the district.
Meanwhile, the situation in Lalmonirhat district was improving slightly as the Teesta was flowing below the danger mark yesterday, reports our correspondent.
However, the Dharla was flowing above the danger mark at Kulaghat point in Sadar upazila, said WDB sources.
As floodwater in many areas started receding, erosion by the rivers devoured a number of homesteads, croplands and orchards, said Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Shibendu Khastagir.
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