The overall flood situation in several districts in the country, including Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Sylhet, Noakhali, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Bogra, has worsened with heavy rains and onrush of water from upstream leading to surging of water level in the rivers. The flood situation in the districts remained grim on Wednesday, as the flood water inundated more areas of the districts.
The water flows of the rivers Padma, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Surma and several others rivers rose above the danger level. For this reason, hundreds of people became marooned, while farmers of the concerned areas fear of extensive damage to the Aman paddy if the flood continues for several days.
Meanwhile, the flood affected people in most of the areas are now facing lack of pure drinking water and dry food. In a few areas, some philanthropic persons distributed dry foods personally among the flood affected people, but thousands of people are yet to receive any relief materials from the government or any non-government organisation. In this backdrop, demand of distribution of relief from several quarters was raised. The concerned district administrations of several districts have already sent letters to the government for allocation of more rice, cash money and other assistances.
In Kurigram, the flood situation in six upazilas of the district has worsened due to incessant rainfalls and onrush of water from the upstream. The flood-hit upazilas are Nageshwari, Sadar, Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari and Rajibpur. At least one lakh people have become marooned in the low-lying areas of the upazilas.
Our Kurigram Corresponded reported that massive damage to the newly planted Ropa Aman and vegetables grown on 18,843 hectares of land, washing away of fish ponds and some portions of two embankments have become a matter of great concern for the farmers. The authorities have shut 50 schools in the district. Flood control dam at Ulipur upazila went under water that submerged 15 new villages.
Abu Taher, executive engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board (WDB), said that the water level of the Brahmaputra at Chilmari point rose by 13 cm in the last 24 hours and the river was flowing four cm above the danger mark at the point.
The Dharla River water was also flowing close to the danger level, while water level of the Teesta at Kawnia point was below the danger mark. Kurigamr DC ABM Azad has provided 100 tonnes of rice and Tk one lakh for the flood-affected people. A letter was faxed to the ministry concerned seeking allocation for the flood victims.
Executive Engineer of Kurighram Roads of Highways Department Hamidul Haque told that 20 meter embankment of Mora Teesta on Ulipur Bazar washed away and the road and a bridge were being threatened due to heavy current of the river. The officials of Roads and Highways Department were working to protect the road and bridges.
About 600 houses in Razarhat and Roumari upazilas are now under flood water. The dam of Gachbari at Roumari has been damaged. On the other hand, the Sonahat Bridge of Bhurungamari upazila was being threatened as onrush of water from upstream.
In Gaibandha, the water levels of different rivers, including the Teesta and Brahmaputra and Karatoya, saw a rise due to heavy rain and onrush of water from hills over the last few days. In some areas, flood control dams were also went under water or the dams were broken. Officials WDB said that the Brahmaputra was flowing 26cm above the danger mark in the district.
The Ghagot, one of the major rivers in the district, was flowing 26 cm above its danger level inundating the fresh areas. The officials of WDB said that the water level in the river Ghagot rose by 2 cm and it was flowing 26 cm above its danger mark at New Bridge point of the district.
In Rangpur, the flood situation has worsened further following inundation of fresh areas as major rivers were flowing above danger mark at six points due to further rise in water levels in the Brahmaputra basin. The Brahmaputra at different points in the district was flowing above the danger levels. Many flood victims had taken shelter on the nearby flood control embankment with their belongings including domestic animals and poultry birds and were passing their days miserably for want of food and drinking water.
In Sylhet, the low-lying areas of several upazilas of the district, including Kanaighat, Jointapur and Goainghat, went under water due to incessant rainfalls and onrush of water from the mountain. The water in the Surma River at Kanaighat upazila was flowing above 60 centimeters of the danger mark. Local farmers fear of extensive damage to the Aman paddy if the flood continues only for a few days.
The water level in the rivers Lova and Saree has also increased. UNO of Kanaighat upazila Tarek Mohammad Zakaria said that they have already opened the flood control cell to monitor the overall flood situation.
In Noakhali, several upazilas of the district, including the coastal areas of Subrnachar, Begumganj and Senbag, have been hit with rain water and raising water level in the rivers. People of at least 10 unions of the upaizilas have become marooned for the flood. Lands of paddy, fisheries farms and pond went under flood water.
In Bogra, the water of Jamuna River is flowing above 62 centimeters of the danger level at Sariakandi upazila in the district. Flood control dam at Roudah area of the upazila has already been submerged by the flood water. UNO of Sariakandi upazila said that the situation is going out of control due to rise of water from last couple of days.
In Jamalpur, the level of water was rising quickly. Several lakhs people of Islampur, Sarishabari and Deoyanaganja upazilas of the district have become affected by flood. Jamalpur District Commissioner called an emergency meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee in this regard. DC of the district Md Shahabuddin Khan distributed rice and cash among the flood affected people. WDB sources said that during the period the water level of the river rose by 6 cm and was flowing 35 cm above the red mark at Bahadurabadghat point. District Relief and Rehabilitation Office said nine unions of Islampur upazila have been inundated. The district administration allotted 12 tonnes of rice and cash Taka 2.5 lakh for the flood victims in the upazila. The flood situation has also worsened in Sherpur, Nilphamari, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Madaripur and some other districts.
