Flood situation worsens in central, southern regions
STAFF REPORTER
With the falling water level of the rivers and less rainfall, the flood situation in the northern districts is improving. However, many people are unable to return as their homes have been destroyed by the floods. The situation in the central and southern zones of the country is deteriorating. Many areas are being submerged by onrush of water flowing towards the Bay of Bengal. The flood-affected people in the northern region are facing the menace of rivers eroding their homesteads, making their rehabilitation difficult.
These people are also facing water-borne diseases due to lack of fresh water, both for themselves and their cattle. They alleged that relief and water purification tablets they were getting from the flood shelters were inadequate.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Ganges-Padma is rising, while the Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Surma and Kushiyara rivers are falling. The Ganges-Padma is likely to continue rising in the next 48 hours, while the Brahmaputra-Jamuna is likely to continue falling in the next 72 hours.
Out of 90 monitoring stations, the water level at 46 was falling below the danger level, while it was rising at 43 and steady at one.
The body of a woman, who drowned in floodwaters, was found at Gobindapara of Bagmara upazila under Rajshahi district yesterday. With this, the number of flood victims rose to 40.
Our Lalmonirhat correspondent reports that the overall flood situation in five upazilas of the district has improved. Floodwaters of the Teesta and Dharla receded from most areas of the affected unions.
Visiting some worst-affected areas of Mogalhat and Khulaghat in Sadar and Mohishkhocha of Aditmari upazila, it was seen that the aftermath of the floods is unbelievable. The rural economy and the life of villagers have been severely affected.
Some of the villagers have returned, but many are still passing their days on highways or under the sky with their kids and animals.
Visiting Char Shiber Kuti of Khulaghat union in Sadar upazila, this correspondent found villagers repairing their damaged houses. Many of them are helpless as floodwaters have washed away their houses, trees and cattle. They are now wondering how they can recover their losses and rebuild their homes.
Felani Begum (55), a resident of Char Shiber Kuti, said her three houses, trees and everything were washed away by the strong current of the Dharla river. She is living in the open on a highway. She is yet to get help from the government or any other organisation.
Jobeda and Jarina of the area had the same tale to tell.
Hasan Ali (70), a resident of Char Shiber Kuti, was rebuilding his house. He said his two houses were washed away by floodwaters. He and his family had taken shelter on the Wabda flood protection dam for the past seven days. They returned today and were reconstructing the house.He urged the government to give them interest-free loan to survive.
Nur Mohamad (70) of South Shiber Kuti village of Khulaghat union demanded that the broken point of the Wabda flood protection dam be repaired immediately. He said he had never seen such devastation by floodwaters. After the dam was breached, floodwaters entered the area and destroyed everything.
Communication in affected areas has collapsed completely as floodwaters damaged roads. The rural roads have to be repaired immediately to restore communication.
When contacted, the deputy commissioner (DC) of Lalmonirhat, Mohamad Shafiul Arif, told The Independent: We have directed the local authorities to prepare a list of the worst-affected families. After getting the list, we will provide them money and materials to rebuild their houses.
Our Tangail correspondent says: The old Elenga bus station was inundated yesterday (Friday), with the flood situation in the district deteriorating.
The flood situation worsened in seven upazilas in Tangail district due to the onrush of water from the upstream of the Jamuna and the Dhaleswari. Parts of some flood control and river protection embankments have been washed away and vast areas are under water. The affected upazilas are Tangail Sadar, Bhuapur, Kalihati, Dhanbari, Goplapur, Nagorpur and Delduwar.
Shameem Ara Rini, UNO of Dhanbari upazila, said part of the embankment of the Jhenai river at Keramjani and the Kosaibari flood control embankment in Dhanbari upazila have been washed away.
Twenty more villages in the upazila have been affected by floods. Many educational institutions and mosques have been inundated.
The old Elenga bus station on the Dhaka-Bangabandhu Bridge highway is under water. The police and local people dumped sand bags to protect the area. Transport on the highway has not yet been hampered.
Twenty villages of Tangail Sadar, Nagorpur and Delduwar have been affected by floods, as parts of the Noaga-Joshihati embankment were washed away.
Ten villages of Kalihati upazila have been affected by floods as a part the of HoteyaLouhajong river protection dam has been washed away. It is learnt that about 5 lakh people have become marooned in flood waters in the district.
Anxiety prevails among the people. They think the present flood situation is more dangerous that that of 1998. Relief materials are scarce.
From a source in the Tangail district administration, it is learnt that only 5 tonnes of rice and Tk. 1 lakh have been distributed among the flood victims of the district.
