Nearly five million people affected by floods, 18 dead: government

The flood situation is likely to improve in the next 24 hours, says Reza, additional secretary of the disaster management ministry

Flooding is ongoing in 11 districts across the country as the number of people affected by the floods has risen as the death toll hits 18, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

KM Ali Reza, an additional secretary of the ministry said, “The number of flood-hit districts is 11 so far. Nearly 5 million people have been affected, among them are nearly 1 million families.”

“We have heard that the flood situation will improve in the next 24 hours. There is little likelihood of heavy rain in the northeast of the country or its adjacent upstream areas during the period. The flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the Manu, the Khwai, and the Dholai rivers in the Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts may continue to improve.”

The Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar districts have been reeling from flash floods over the past several days due to upstream runoff and heavy rain.

Citing a Bangladesh Meteorological Department bulletin, Reza said, “There is little chance of heavy rain in the southeast, east and adjoining upstream areas too, meaning that the low-lying areas adjacent to the Muhuri, the Feni, the Gomti, and the Halda rivers in Feni, Cumilla, and Chattogram districts may see further improvement in the flooding situation.”

“The death toll in the flooding has risen from 13 to 18.”

"Among the dead, four are from Cumilla, one each from Feni, Brahmanbaria and Lakshmipur, three each from Noakhali and Cox’s Bazar, and five from Chattogram,” he said.

Saying that a field hospital has been set up in Feni for the flood victims, Reza said, “It will be jointly operated by the Army and civil surgeon’s office. The treatment of flood-affected people is underway.

“A total of 3,527 shelters have been arranged where 284,888 people took refuge alongside 21,695 domestic animals.”

The disaster management official said, “The Bangladesh Navy, Army, Fire Service, Coast Guard, student representatives and border guard personnel are working with the administration to implement the programmes taken to handle the flooding in the Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Feni, Lakshmipur, and Noakhali districts.”

The additional secretary said over Tk 30 million has been allocated for the 11 flood-hit districts, along with 20,150 tonnes of rice and 15,000 packs of dry food.

Around Tk 3.5 million for children’s food and another Tk 3.5 million for purchasing fodder and other animal feed has also been allocated, he said.

THE WATER LEVELS IN THE RIVERS

The water in six rivers exceeded the danger level at nine points as of 9am on Saturday.

Among the 116 stations of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the water levels eased at 84 points but showed a rising trend at 22 points, while four other points remained unchanged.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Gomti River in Cumilla was flowing 96 cm above the danger line at 9am on Saturday.

The water of the Khwai River was flowing 44 cm above the danger level at Habiganj’s Balla point while the Manu River was flowing 91 cm above the danger level at the Moulvibazar point.

The Feni River in Chattogram was flowing 53 cm above the danger line at Ramgarh station.

The water of the Kushiyara River in Sylhet was flowing 14 cm above the danger point at Amarshil station, 1 cm above at Shewla point and 9 cm above at the Sherpur-Sylhet point. The river was flowing 4 cm above the danger line at Sunamganj’s Markuli point.

However, the WDB could not provide information on the Muhuri River after the agency lost connection with Feni’s Parshuram station.