Sylhet Correspondent :
Even as receding Kushiara waters improve the situation in Sylhet, forecasts of heavy rain and the downstream flow along the Jamuna River have exacerbated flooding in northern Bangladesh.
According to the Meteorological Department, the coming days are likely to see an increase in rainfall.
Such an increase could further deteriorate the situation in northern areas, the Water Development Board said.
The water level of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and rivers in the Ganges-Padma Basin rose on Friday, said Sajjad Hossain, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
“The rise in the Jamuna water level will continue for the next few days. There was comparatively little rain today. As a result the increase in the Jamuna-Brahmaputra water level was not too significant. However, the rains forecast in the coming days will raise the level further. That is the concern.”
On Friday, seven of the 90 river monitoring stations around Bangladesh reported the water level had exceeded the danger zone. A 24-hour report showed the water level rising at 51 points and lowering at 32 others. The rise in the Jamuna water level has flooded low-lying areas.
Waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, were spreading in six upazilas-Zakiganj, Bianibazar, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, Balaganj and Osmaninagar- and some parts of Kanaighat, Biswanath and Companyganj upazilas of the district due to lack of pure drinking water.
People were seen cleaning their utensils and clothes with the floodwater, causing outbreak of skin diseases.
Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, Sylhet Civil Surgeon, said a number of medical teams wee working to prevent water-borne diseases in the district.
In Fenchuganj upazila, the water of the Kushiara River was flowing 134 cm above the danger level on Wednesday though the floodwater started to recede.
Gias Uddin, a caretaker of 174 no Gauge Station of Water Development Board, said the river water was flow-ing 142cm above the red mark on Saturday.
Shahidur Rahman, chairman of Fenchuganj Upazila Parishad, said they distributed Tk 2 lakh from Upazila Parishad fund among the flood-affected people.
Hure Jannat, Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer, distributed relief materials, pure drinking water, purification tablets and cash among the people at Chattish Government Primary School.
Visiting Baradal area in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila yesterday, sylhetmirror.com found that 47-year-old Ila Begum, sitting on a boat, was pouring floodwater on her head to lower fever.
“I’ve been suffering from fever for a week. But no doctor or medical team visited our area since the flood hit us around two weeks ago. I don’t have money to buy medicine,” she said.
Mitu Das, 17, of Karera village in the same upazila said his mother was suffering from diarrhoea, but he had no money to buy oral saline or medicine.
Rahat Anwar , deputy commissioner of Sylhet, said the district administration was taking preparation to stand by the flood-hit people with relief aid.
Even as receding Kushiara waters improve the situation in Sylhet, forecasts of heavy rain and the downstream flow along the Jamuna River have exacerbated flooding in northern Bangladesh.
According to the Meteorological Department, the coming days are likely to see an increase in rainfall.
Such an increase could further deteriorate the situation in northern areas, the Water Development Board said.
The water level of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and rivers in the Ganges-Padma Basin rose on Friday, said Sajjad Hossain, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
“The rise in the Jamuna water level will continue for the next few days. There was comparatively little rain today. As a result the increase in the Jamuna-Brahmaputra water level was not too significant. However, the rains forecast in the coming days will raise the level further. That is the concern.”
On Friday, seven of the 90 river monitoring stations around Bangladesh reported the water level had exceeded the danger zone. A 24-hour report showed the water level rising at 51 points and lowering at 32 others. The rise in the Jamuna water level has flooded low-lying areas.
Waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, were spreading in six upazilas-Zakiganj, Bianibazar, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, Balaganj and Osmaninagar- and some parts of Kanaighat, Biswanath and Companyganj upazilas of the district due to lack of pure drinking water.
People were seen cleaning their utensils and clothes with the floodwater, causing outbreak of skin diseases.
Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, Sylhet Civil Surgeon, said a number of medical teams wee working to prevent water-borne diseases in the district.
In Fenchuganj upazila, the water of the Kushiara River was flowing 134 cm above the danger level on Wednesday though the floodwater started to recede.
Gias Uddin, a caretaker of 174 no Gauge Station of Water Development Board, said the river water was flow-ing 142cm above the red mark on Saturday.
Shahidur Rahman, chairman of Fenchuganj Upazila Parishad, said they distributed Tk 2 lakh from Upazila Parishad fund among the flood-affected people.
Hure Jannat, Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer, distributed relief materials, pure drinking water, purification tablets and cash among the people at Chattish Government Primary School.
Visiting Baradal area in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila yesterday, sylhetmirror.com found that 47-year-old Ila Begum, sitting on a boat, was pouring floodwater on her head to lower fever.
“I’ve been suffering from fever for a week. But no doctor or medical team visited our area since the flood hit us around two weeks ago. I don’t have money to buy medicine,” she said.
Mitu Das, 17, of Karera village in the same upazila said his mother was suffering from diarrhoea, but he had no money to buy oral saline or medicine.
Rahat Anwar , deputy commissioner of Sylhet, said the district administration was taking preparation to stand by the flood-hit people with relief aid.
