Overall flood situation improves

Jamuna receding, Kushiyara may fall from Today

After wrecking havoc in the northern and north-eastern districts for more than a week, the Jamuna, Surma and the Kushiyara rivers, along with the Padma, are falling in the central region. The Jamuna would start falling further from Tuesday afternoon, Sazzad Hossain, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), told The Independent yesterday (Monday).

The Surma–Kushiyara, on the rise for the past couple of days, would also start falling from Tuesday (today), Hossain said.

This is likely to reduce the woes of the north-eastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and parts of Maulvibazar.

The Padma that suddenly rose threatening low-lying areas of Faridpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Munshiganj would continue to fall in the next couple of days, though the Ganges would be on the rise for the next 24 hours.

The Brahmaputra–Jamuna would maintain their fall in the next 72 hours, the FFWC official noted.

As the rivers are receding, they are eroding everything coming their way.

At the same time, thousands of flood victims who had to leave their homes in search of higher lands like highways, railways and temporary shelters are counting their losses and wondering about their days ahead. They are pondering over their rehabilitation without work and depleted food stocks, reports from the affected regions said yesterday.

At the same time, they are weighing their options against how to overcome paucity of safe water and food to stave off diseases.

Children living in virtual imprisonment in dry places with their parents are also getting fidgety when their schools would open and how to go there.

Our correspondents reported that despite falling, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Dudhkumar rivers were flowing above their danger levels. People in north-western Chapainawabganj, where the Ganges enters Bangladesh after taking the name of the Padma, are worrying about the rising river destroying their hearth and homes.

In Kurigram, ravaged by the Brahmaputra in its vast charlands, people are facing water-borne diseases, though the situation has improved. However, at least 50,000 people are still trapped in flood waters.

Despite falling, the Jamuna was still flowing above its danger level in Bogra.

In Bhuyapur of Tangail, another district menaced by the river, people were trying to save whatever they could from erosion.

Downstream in Sirajganj, people living on roads and embankments were unable to return to their flooded homes.

The past few days have been dry, and this has contributed to the improvement in the flood situation.

But the rain is likely to return from Wednesday, with a little rain likely today (Tuesday), the Met Office said yesterday.

Overall flood situation improves

Jamuna receding, Kushiyara may fall from Today

After wrecking havoc in the northern and north-eastern districts for more than a week, the Jamuna, Surma and the Kushiyara rivers, along with the Padma, are falling in the central region. The Jamuna would start falling further from Tuesday afternoon, Sazzad Hossain, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), told The Independent yesterday (Monday). The SurmaKushiyara, on the rise for the past couple of days, would also start falling from Tuesday (today), Hossain said. This is likely to reduce the woes of the north-eastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and parts of Maulvibazar. The Padma that suddenly rose threatening low-lying areas of Faridpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Munshiganj would continue to fall in the next couple of days, though the Ganges would be on the rise for the next 24 hours. The BrahmaputraJamuna would maintain their fall in the next 72 hours, the FFWC official noted. As the rivers are receding, they are eroding everything coming their way. At the same time, thousands of flood victims who had to leave their homes in search of higher lands like highways, railways and temporary shelters are counting their losses and wondering about their days ahead. They are pondering over their rehabilitation without work and depleted food stocks, reports from the affected regions said yesterday. At the same time, they are weighing their options against how to overcome paucity of safe water and food to stave off diseases. Children living in virtual imprisonment in dry places with their parents are also getting fidgety when their schools would open and how to go there. Our correspondents reported that despite falling, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Dudhkumar rivers were flowing above their danger levels. People in north-western Chapainawabganj, where the Ganges enters Bangladesh after taking the name of the Padma, are worrying about the rising river destroying their hearth and homes. In Kurigram, ravaged by the Brahmaputra in its vast charlands, people are facing water-borne diseases, though the situation has improved. However, at least 50,000 people are still trapped in flood waters. Despite falling, the Jamuna was still flowing above its danger level in Bogra. In Bhuyapur of Tangail, another district menaced by the river, people were trying to save whatever they could from erosion. Downstream in Sirajganj, people living on roads and embankments were unable to return to their flooded homes. The past few days have been dry, and this has contributed to the improvement in the flood situation. But the rain is likely to return from Wednesday, with a little rain likely today (Tuesday), the Met Office said yesterday.