The authorities of the Water Development Board (WDB), the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) and some other concerned departments can’t avert the responsibility of severity of the ongoing floods, which already affected over two millions people in 19 districts in the country.
The flood situation is several districts took severe turn due to collapse of flood protection embankments and lack of prior warning from the concerned department. Experts and observers said that if the embankments could have been constructed in a planned way and repaired in due time and people properly alarmed, the loss due to the floods could be less and many areas of the country could be saved from inundation.
Eng M Inamul Haque, Chairman of Institute of Water & Environment, said that unplanned and faulty construction of the embankments have left many areas inundated. He alleged that there was also no forecast of any severe flood this year from the concerned department. When asked, Ripon Karmaker, Assistant Engineer of the FFWC, said that they had made forecast. “We guessed that a flood might hit several districts from mid August. This was discussed in our meeting. We made forecast that the water level in different rivers may rise,” he said.
Although the ongoing floods were improving slightly on Wednesday, the flood-affected people have been facing miseries following loss of their homes and other belongings, including their last hope- Aman paddy and other seasonal crops. Different waterborne diseases are also spreading in the flood-affected areas due to lack of pure drinking water and sanitation. Alongside with the crisis of relief materials, the flood victims are also facing crisis of medicine. In this backdrop, the demand for the helps of the government has been raised so that the flood victims can overcome the plight.
According to the FFWC, the water at least in 10 river stations was flowing above danger level on Wednesday against 16 on Tuesday. The Jamuna was flowing 28 cm above the danger level at Sariakandi station, while the GUR’s flow was 9 cm at Singra, the Atrai’s flow was 64 at Baghabari, the Dhwaleshwari’s flow was 64 cm at Elashin and 14 cm at Jagir, the Shitalakhya’s flow was 89 cm at Lakhpur and 11 cm in Narayanganj, the Turag’s flow was 2 cm at Mirpur, the Kaliganga was 41 cm at Taraghat and the Konsha was 41 cm at Jariajangail. These rivers may continue to fall in the next two days. However, the rivers around Dhaka City namely the Buriganga, the Balu, the Turag and the Tongi Khal-may also fall in next 24 hours. Flood situation in the districts of Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail Shariatpur, Madaripur, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur and Manikganj may continue to improve in next 48 hours
According to the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), at least four persons died in the flood while at least a number of patients of waterborne diseases got admitted in the hospitals in several districts. The officials of the Department also admitted that the farmers are concerned for the extensive damages of Aman paddy, vegetables and other seasonal crops.
Our Kurigram Correspondent adds that the flood water in all the nine upazilas of the district is receding daily but the flood victims could not return to their houses, as most of the houses are inundated till now. Rural roads have been damaged. Most of the standing crops are still inundated. Crops on about 40,000 hectares of land have been damaged. With receding of flood water, various kinds of water borne diseases broke out.
More than 160 primary schools, high schools and religious institutions are inundated till now. Fishes of about 300 ponds worth Tk one crore have been washed away by the flood water. The flood victims are passing their days on roads alongside with their cattle under the open sky. Many of them passed days on the boat. Some of them have received relief materials which are inadequate. Dry food and pure drinking water are needed for the victims.
Our Rangpur Correspondent adds that over 400 families of different villages under Gangachara upazila in the district were marooned during last couple of weeks due to serious erosion of the river Teesta. Hundreds of acres of croplands, a number of houses have been devoured by the river during last 20 days. A number of establishments, including several educational institutions, are now on the verge of extinction due to erosion. The affected people are now facing acute crisis of food, shelter and medicine.
Executive Engineer of WDB Rangpur Mahbubur Rahman said that they are trying hard to save the Teesta dyke and check erosion by putting sand bags and bamboo. But they are facing serious difficulties to control erosion completely on account of heavy current of Teesta, he added.
A number of erosion-hit people alleged that they are yet to get any relief items. Many victims said that the relief goods, what they received, were not adequate.
