Floods spread further
Floods spread further
Situation to worsen in 13 out of 16 affected districts; at least 2.5 lakh families hit hard
The flood situation in at least 13 districts may deteriorate slightly as water levels of three major rivers are likely to increase in the next three days, prolonging the woes of several lakh flood-hit people.
According to a rough estimation of Disaster Management Department, over 2.5 lakh families have been affected by the floods that started in mid-August.
Even though the flood-hit people complained of inadequate relief efforts, the department claimed that there was “sufficient” relief allocation to tackle the situation.
About Dhaka, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) yesterday said the rivers surrounding the city, with around 1.5 crore people, are swelling, but it sees little chance of floods in the capital in the next few days.
According to the latest bulletin of the FFWC at 6:00am yesterday, the flood situation of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Jamalpur, Tangail, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Munshiganj, Rajbari and Faridpur may “slightly deteriorate” in next 48 hours.
Water levels of almost all the major rivers were rising while water level of the Brahmaputra, Jamuna and the Padma could rise in next 72 hours, it says.
The rise of water level in the Brahmaputra and the Teesta in India caused the Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Padma and the Teesta in Bangladesh to swell and this could deteriorate the situation “slightly”, Ripon Karmaker, duty officer of the FFWC, told The Daily Star last night.
However, flood situation in three north-east districts -- Netrakona, Sunamganj and Sylhet -- could improve in the next 48 hours, he said, adding that the water levels of the Surma and the Kushiyara had fallen.
The Buriganga, Balu, Turag and the Tongi canal could swell in next 72 hours but stay under the danger level, he said.
Even though the FFWC says 16 districts had been affected by the floods, Mohammad Abdul Wazed, director general of the Department of Disaster Management, said 11 districts had been “affected seriously” and five-six more could be affected soon.
“We are yet to get detailed report [about the flood] and we expect to have it on Sunday,” Wazed told The Daily Star last night.
He said 5,150 tonnes of rice had been allocated for the 11 districts and 2,486.86 tonnes had been distributed. Apart from rice, Tk 1.6 crore had been allocated for the flood affected and Tk 41.15 lakh of it was disbursed.
Officials are distributing relief but they, in some cases, are facing problems as people, who were not actually affected, demand relief, he added.
JAMALPUR
Flood situation in Jamalpur deteriorated yesterday with the water level of the Jamuna rising, sources in Bangladesh Water Development Board said.
A total of 407.47 square kilometres area of Islampur, Dewanganj, Madarganj and Sharishabari upazilas had been inundated for last nine days, local administration sources said.
Classes in 113 primary schools, out of 137, remained suspended for about a week while a total of 16,311 hectares of cropland went under water, they said.
KURIGRAM
The overall flood situation worsened in Kurigram as water levels of 16 rivers including the Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, Dharla and the Teesta rose yesterday.
At least three lakh people in 270 villages have been marooned. Abul Hossen, chairman of Hatia union in Ulipur upazila, said 12 new villages got flooded yesterday.
BOGRA
Strong current and high water level wiped away 30 metres of a flood-control embankment in Rohodoha Bazar area of Shariakandi upazila early Wednesday.
Flood affected people alleged that they had been passing hard times without food, medicine, drinking water and food for their livestock.
Nezarat Deputy Collector of Bogra Arifuzzaman said around 17,000 families in 94 villages of the district were affected.
LALMONIRHAT
Due to onrush of water from upstream, the overall flood situation in Lalmonirhat deteriorated yesterday, leaving one lakh people in the 80 affected villages of the district to suffer more.
Mofazzal Hossain, chairman of Rajpur union council, and Idris Ali of Kulaghat Union Council of Lalmonirhat sadar, alleged that the district administration's relief allocation was insufficient.