Rain And Flood In Feni, People Plunge Into Darkness

Heavy rainfall and a surge of floodwaters from upstream in India have wreaked havoc across Feni district, leaving over 300,000 residents without electricity.

The district’s power infrastructure has sustained extensive damage, according to local officials.

"Over 300,000 people are currently without power, with heavy rains causing widespread damage to power infrastructure,” reported Hawlader Md Fazlur Rahman, general manager of Feni Palli Bidyut Samiti.

The worst-affected areas include Feni Sadar, Parshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas, where power outages have caused severe disruptions.

Approximately 70% of Feni Power Development Board’s customers are without electricity, confirmed executive engineer Hossain Mahmud Shamim Farhad. "Floodwaters have severely damaged power lines, and authorities have had to cut off electricity to prevent further damage," he added.

The torrential rains and overflowing rivers have not only disrupted power but also caused significant damage to properties. Floodwaters have entered the ground floors of numerous buildings across Feni town, damaging meters and adding to the complexity of restoration efforts.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) reported that water levels in rivers such as Surma-Kushiyara, Dhalai, Manu, Khowai, Gumti, Muhuri, and Feni have risen rapidly due to continuous heavy rain in upstream areas of India. The rapid increase in water levels has exacerbated the flood situation in southeastern Bangladesh.

Authorities urged residents to stay vigilant and have provided emergency contact numbers for those in need of assistance.

The region continues to brace for more rain, as authorities and residents work together to address the fallout from this devastating natural disaster.