M Faruque Hossain :At least 13 people died, about one million people were marooned, hundreds of educational institutions shut down, thousands of people homeless, and standing crops of the country’s about one-third area damaged in this year’s deluge so far. Shortage of foods and drinking water has become the biggest problem in the flood-hit areas, especially for people who are living in the remote villages, relief officials said media. Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) sources said, flood situation in areas adjacent to the Brahmaputra and the Jamuna Rivers in Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Natore districts, to the Padma rivers in Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Shariatpur districts may deteriorate further in next 48 hours. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna, the Ganges-Padma and the Kushiyara river belt are on rising trend, but the Surma River registered fall. The Buriganga, the Balu, the Turag, the Sitalakhya Rivers around Dhaka city are still rising and may continue for next 48 hours. The most affected areas are Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajganj, Tangail and Netrokona, according to the FFWC data. A Water Development Board (WDB) official from Jamalpur said, this year’s flood is severer than ever before in Northern part of the country. In Kurigram, around two lakh people in Kurigram Sadar, Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari, Rajibpur, Nageswari and Fulbari upazilas have been passing life in utmost miseries for six days. The Brahmaputra River was flowing 95 cm above its danger level at Chilmari point while the Dharla River was flowing 100 cm over the danger mark at bridge point.Nearly six lakh people of 60 unions in nine upazilas are reeling under water for unabated swelling of the rivers. The Roumari Upazila Parishad premises, Upazila Land Office, Post Office, Roumari Bazar, Roumari Degree College, and Roumari CG Zaman High School, have gone under water following collapse of an embankment. Besides, flood water has entered Rajibpur Upazila Parishad premises, Upazila Livestock office, Rajibpur Bazar and Rajibpur Degree College. Around 500 kilometer roads have been submerged in the district. The authorities have shut down 200 educational institutions of the district. Kurigram administration sources said, 400 tonnes of rice and Tk 7.25 lakh have been distributed among the affected people. District flood control room sources said, 6090 families were affected by river erosion while 19 bridges and culverts were damaged. Some 3,162 affected people have taken refuge in 34 shelter centres. In Faridpur, the flood situation in the district is turning worse as the Padma River keeps swelling inundating new areas. More than 35,000 people have been marooned as the flood situation in the district has deteriorated due to onrush of upstream water and incessant rainfall in the last 12 hours. WDB sources said, water level of the Padma River has increased by 60cm in the last 12 hours. According to the district administration, many villages of seven unions in Sadar, Charbhodrason and Sadarpur upazilas of the district went under water due to overflow of water from the river. According to the district administration, many villages of seven unions in Sadar, Charbhodrason and Sadarpur upazilas of the district went under water. Most of the roads were submerged in the flood water, snapping the vehicular communication with the district headquarters. Breaking the flood protection dam nine upazilas in Kurigram, Ulipur of Chilmari, Belkuchi of Sirajganj inundated with flood water. In Shariatpur, 18 unions from Sadar, Noria, Jajira and Vedorganj have been flooded. Roads and educational institutions have been submerged. Thousands of people have been passing days miserably. They are suffering from drinking water and sanitation systems. The number of water borne diseases increased. The people have been crying for relief as they do not have any source of income. A Madrasah student died at Fatikchhari in Chittagong. The deceased was identified as Shipa Akter, 11, a student of Al Jamia Arabia Nasirul Islam Madrasah. Shipa is the daughter of Abul Hossain from Sonaimuri village of Noakhali district. Witnesses said, Shipa was going to Madrasah with her class mate Sumaiya. When they were crossing a bamboo-made bridge, Shipa fell down and drowned. Hearing the cry of Sumaiya the locals rescued Shipa and rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where the duty doctor declared her dead.
