Flood deaths hit 98; around 6 million affected

The death toll from the second spell flood of the season has risen to 98 with around 6 million people affected across the country, according to the Department of Disaster Management.

Disaster management department said the flood hit over 1.3 million families in 30 districts; around half a million houses damaged.

Though the situation has slightly improved in the north, the flood has already damaged crops of around 2 million hectares of land in the affected areas. Around 3,000 metres of road, 123 bridges and culverts, and 280 dams have also been damaged.

A DDM official said, "Flood situation in the northern districts has improved slightly as the water levels of the Brahmaputra, Jamuna and other rivers have started to recede but remain above the danger mark."

As the rivers are still flowing above the danger level, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre says that it will take "some more days" to overcome the situation.

The department's Assistant Director Md Hafizur Rahman said around 300,000 flood-hit people took refuge in 953 shelters in the affected areas across the country.