Flood Situation Remains Grim across Country

The overall flood situation in the country deteriorated further on Monday due to the rise in water levels in various rivers, as flood waters cut off-road communications at places and left thousands of people marooned. 

The situation in the worst-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts remained static, with the easing of rains aiding the receding of flood waters from different parts of the districts.

 The flood-affected were still going through immense suffering for want of food and drinking water.

Meanwhile, four people were killed in the district due to flood. Three of them drowned and one was electrocuted.    

The Surma river was flowing 55 cm above its danger level in Sylhet and 1.15 cm above the danger mark at Kanaighat, while Kushiara River was flowing 1.84 cm above its danger mark at Amalshid, 63 cm above at Sheula point and 0.5 cm above at Fenchuganj point around 9 am on Monday.

AKM Niloy Pasha, deputy-assistant engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board, said “The water level of Surma River will decrease further. But new areas have been flooded in Fenchuganj upazila due to the swelling of Kushiara River."

Besides, the flood waters in Goainghat, Jointapur, Sadar Kanaighat, Jakiganj, Golapganj, Beanibazar, Biswanath, Osmaninagar and Balaganj upazilas of the district started to recede on Monday.

Sylhet city residents also reported  receding flood waters in the suburbs of the cities, including Taltola, Teroratan and Ghasitula parts of the city.

People in many flood-hit areas are still living under darkness however, due to power not being restored fully as yet, and the gas supply was also cut off in those areas, causing unspeakable sufferings to the flood victims.

Some volunteers were seen wading through chest-deep water to provide water bottles to the flood-hit people in the city who remained stranded in the first or second floors of buildings.

Meanwhile, mobile networks remained down  in major parts of the city.

A person called  Rahim, who lives in Dhaka for work purposes, said “I came to Sylhet as my wife and two children are in Sunamganj. I could not reach them due to the failure of the mobile network.

Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj District, Jahangir Hossain, said 90 percent of the area in Sunamganj district is under water and 70,000 people have taken shelter in 220 homes.

People living in remote areas of the district failed to reach the shelter homes due to poor transport system and the Army personnel are still conducting their rescue operation to evacuate the flood-victims, he said.

In Bogura, many areas of the district have been flooded due to the swelling of the Jamuna River.

The Jamuna River was flowing 54 cm above its danger level at Mathura point in Sariakandi upazila around 6 pm on Monday.

Some 1,508 hectares of land have been affected by the flood water, while 98 educational institutions were closed.

A total of 1384 hectares of land have been damaged in the flood, said Abdul Halim, Sariakandi upazila agriculture officer.

In Sherpur,  Brahmmaputra river was flowing 30 cm above its danger level at Bridge point in Sadar upazila at 6 pm on Monday

The flood water entered many houses along the Kulurchar-Beparipara char in the upazila.

In Habiganj, flood situation worsened further as the Khoai river was flowing 147 cm above its danger mark at Masulia point in sadar upazila.

Around 1000 villages in four upazilas of the district have been flooded, rendering thousands of people marooned.

The local administration has already opened 118 shelter homes and provided dry food and relief to the flood victims.

In Moulvibazar, the flood situation is grim due to the rise in water level of Manu River .

A total of 2.5 lakh people have been marooned as the water level of Manu and Kushiara rivers  were flowing above its danger level.

Power connection in Kulaura, Juri and Borolekha upazilas of the district have been suspended due to the worsening flood situation.

So far, 161 educational institutions including 115 primary schools have been closed due to the flood.

Mir Nahid, deputy commissioner of the Moulvibazar district said already 98 shelter homes were opened where 15,000 people have taken shelter.

In Lalmonirhat, Teesta river was flowing 31 cm above its danger level at Doani point in Hatibandha upazila of the district around 4 pm, said Asafuddoulla, executive engineer of Water Development Board.

The residents along the river bank have been asked to take shelter in safer places.

Some 10,000 people in different parts of the district have been marooned by the flood water.

In Feni, ten villages in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas have been flooded following the breakdown of a  portion of the dam on the Muhuri river, due to heavy rains and an onrush of hilly water.

The Muhuri was flowing 118 cm above its danger level on Monday evening.

Nur Nabi, sub-divisional engineer of Feni Water Development Board, said all the gates of the  barrage on the Muhuri river were opened to tackle the flood situation.

Vast areas of North Daulatpur, South Daulatpur, Ghaniyamora and Bairagpur of Fulgazi sadar union were flooded following the collapse of the embankment, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Fulgazi Ashrafur Nahar.

“We are observing the situation constantly,” she added.

A vast tract of cropland went underwater and many fish enclosures were washed away by floodwaters that also damaged many houses and roads in the area.

Zahir Uddin, executive engineer of Feni Water Development Board, said the water level n the Muhuri River was flowing below the danger level. "If it doesn't rain anymore, the water will recede quickly," he hopes.

The Water Development Board will take necessary measures after inspecting the damage to the dam on the Muhuri, he said, adding that repair work will start as soon as the water recedes.

In Kurigram, about 250,000 people spread across more than 200 chars in 49 unions have been marooned.

Rowmari upazila is the worst-hit area in the district,  as one lakh people have been stranded there by floodwater.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim said control rooms have been opened in the deputy commissioner's office and in each upazila to tackle the situation. “361 shelters and various educational institutions are kept ready,” the DC informed.

Meanwhile the cross dams adjacent to Sardob, Bangturghat and Jatrapur market are at risk of collapse.

Mahmud Hasan, sub-divisional engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, said the water level of the Brahmaputra and the Dharla may rise further, deteriorating the flood situation here. “That’s why the risky dams are being repaired.”

According to the Kurigram Agriculture Extension Department, 10,894 hectares of cropland have gone under  floodwaters till Sunday.

In Gaibandha, although the Teesta is flowing below the danger level, the other rivers have swollen.

According to the Water Development Board, apart from Brahmaputra, the Ghaghat river in Gaibandha town is flowing 32 cm above the danger level, inundating at least 35 chars and low-lying areas in four upazilas.

Abu Raihan, executive engineer of the Water Development Board, said the water level may continue to increase in the next few days. People are taking shelter on the dams to save their lives and property, as they have no access to any higher ground.