M M Jasim :Vast areas of southeastern part of the country went under floodwater due to incessant rainfall for the last couple of days. Thousands of people in Chittagong, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar and Feni have been marooned in the flood.Road communications in most of the upazilas of the districts have been snapped with the district headquarters, while the electric lines have also been cut off in most of the flood-hit areas. The affected people are facing immense sufferings. In some areas, they are also facing acute crisis of pure drinking water and dry food. The people, especially those who depend on their daily wages, could not go for work. The incident of severe hillside and landslide are apprehended if the moderate-to-heavy rainfall continues. Farmers also apprehend of extensive damage of seasonal crops.However, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board predicts that the flood may prolong for some more days in the affected areas, while it may hit fresh areas in the country. Talking to The New Nation, Md Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, Sub-divisional Engineer of the FFWC, on Sunday said that the Karnafuli, the Feni and other rivers, were flowing above the danger level in different points, while the water level will rise further in the rivers. Shah Alam, an official of the Bangladesh Met office, said that the heavy rainfall might continue until the month end. In Chittagong, the incessant rainfall for the last two days paralysed the civic life of the port city. Low-lying areas of the city have been inundated from knee-deep to ankle-deep water. Holidaymakers faced immense suffering on Sunday, as they failed to turn up their city destinations from village homes after enjoying Eid festival. The residential houses in the low-lying areas went under waist deep water. District administration is rescuing the waterlogged people from the slum areas.The sufferings of the low lying areas enhanced following the high tide in the sea, as the tide water entered the city through different passages. The affected areas are Hamzarbagh, Muradpur, Aturardepot, Bahaddarhat, sulakbahar, Katalgong, Nasirabad, Baizid, Solssahar, Chowkbazar, Panchanalish, DC Road, Khaja Road, chandgaon, Mohra, Bakalia , chaktai, Korbanigonj, Masterpool, Boubazar, Miakhan Nagar, Rajakhali, Dwan Bazar, Agrabad, Chotapol, Barapol, CDA, Halishhar, Pahartali and Sagarika, Patenga slum side. Ground floors of most buildings in these areas went under knee deep to waist deep water. Kitchen markets of chowlkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Reazuddin Bazaar, Bibirhat, boxirhat, Bangle Bazaar, are the worst sufferers as their merchandise flown away with ebb tide. On the other hand, the wholesale markets of Chaktai and Khatungonj experienced heavy damage of essential commodities as their commodity godowns were submerged suddenly in night.Beside the city areas, the district areas under different upazilas of north and south Chittagong were submerged with floodwater. The highway of Chittagong-Bandarban remained without any traffic movement and the Rangamati highway remained suspended for few hours as the floodwater was flowing over the road. Some portions of Cox’s Bazar highway were also submerged with knee-deep water in the morning. Thousand of dwellers of the district have been marooned with floodwater, district control room sources said.The attendance in government and other private offices was poor, as the officials and the workers did not turn up their respective offices due to incessant rains from early morning yesterday.In Feni, at least 30 villages of different upazilas of the district went under water, as the embankment on the River Matamuhuri breached at Sahapara and Uttar Daulatpur points due to heavy rainfall and pressure of high tide.The flood-affected areas are Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Najir Road, Shanti Company Road, Rampur, Doctorpara, Ukilpara, Masterpara, Petrobanglo and Police Headquarters of the Feni Sadar and Hospital area, Sripur village, Debpara, Bashuda, Bainbari, Ghosaipur, Shaldhor, Nilokhi, Bijoypur village, Darbarpur and Munshirhat of Phulgazi upazila. Farmers apprehend of extensive damage of seasonal crops if the flood and the incessant rain continue in the district.Besides, Pathnagar, Radhanagar, Uttar Satar, Shantirhat and Koira of Chhagalnaiya Upazil were inundated due to the floodwater. Ramzan Ali, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board in Feni, said that the engineers of Water Development Board went to the flood-affected areas and took initiatives to reduce the sufferings of the people. Meanwhile, Bandarban administration has asked those living at the foothills to move to safety, as the incessant rain of the last few days is likely to trigger landslides.To alert the inhabitants, the administration has been using megaphones since yesterday morning asking them to move immediately.Several thousand families are living under the risk of landslide in the hilly areas of Islampur, Bonorupa, Hafezghona, Balaghata, Kalaghata, Langipara and Bus Station of the district.”With heavy showers of the last couple of days and indiscriminate hill cutting, landslide may occur any time,” said Mayor of Bandarban Municipality Javed Reza.Five centres have been opened to shelter those who are under the risk, he added.Meanwhile, a house was flattened by landslide in Madhujhiri area of Lama upazila yesterday afternoon. However, no casualty took place, as there was no one in the house during the incident.Apart from the risk of landslide, the water level of Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers has also been rising. Several areas, including the Lama bus station and bazaar, have already been flooded.The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three following deep convection over the North Bay.Deep convection is taking place over the North Bay. Under its influence, squally weather may affect the North Bay, its adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh and the maritime ports, said a Met Office warning message.All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.Bangladesh Meteorological Department in Dhaka on Sunday evening forecast that light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind was likely to occur at most places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at many places over Rangpur and Sylhet divisions with heavy to very heavy falls at places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and moderately heavy to heavy falls at places elsewhere over the country till Monday 6:00pm.Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board data show that water flowed above the danger level at Kanaighat point of the River Surma, at Amalsid and Sheola points of the River Kushiyara, at Jhikorgachha of River Kobadak, at Muhuri of River Parshuram and at Matamuhuri of River Chiringa.
