Flood situation worsens

After remaining trapped in water for 11 days, thousands of people in flood-ravaged Kurigram yesterday (Wednesday) faced the fresh onslaught of a rising Dharala flowing 106cm above its danger level. The Brahmaputra, too, was flowing 98cm above its red mark, increasing the plight of people fighting a grim battle to survive along with their cattle. To make matters worse, water-borne diseases were spreading fast due to lack of safe drinking water.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said flood waters in low-lying areas along the Brahmaputra-Jamuna at Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj and Natore were likely to fall slightly. The Surma-Kushiyara at Sylhet and Sunamganj may recede a little in the next 48 hours.
Reports from the worst-affected northern districts said that despite receiving some help from the administration, people are having a tough time to cope with the situation. Relief is inadequate and they are without work; cooking food is not possible as there is shortage of fuel and dry places.
Even though the administration asked them to move away from the banks of rising rivers, lack of higher places made it difficult to camp it out with their cattle and arrange for provision for all of them, reports said. While the Kurigram people battle it out, those living downstream of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna too are being punished by the river.
The Jamuna was flowing 56cm above the danger level at Sirajganj, leaving at least 200,000 people marooned by flood waters in low-lying areas of Kazipur, Chouhali, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur, Ullapara and Sadar upazilas. With flood waters entering the buildings, over 150 educational institutions have been closed.
In Lalmonirhat, the situation deteriorated as the Dharala and Teesta rose further, flooding new areas and putting over 100,000 people in extreme difficulties, some of them losing their homes, reports said. In the Rohdah area of Sariakandi in Bogra, the only shelter for flood-affected people has gone under the waters of a rising Jamuna flowing 75cm above its danger level.
Our Nilphamari Corresondent reported that though the Teesta has begun to recede since Tuesday night, the sufferings of the flood-affected are yet to end. People who took shelter on high lands, including Siltrab, Pirbo Gomoria, Chaiman Para embankment and the Chairman Para joutho embankment, several days ago are yet to take a decision to leave their temporary shelter places.
The chairman of Tepakharibari union parishad, Md Rabiul Alom Shahin, told The Independent yesterday that at least 2,000 people of six unions in Dimla upazila of the district have taken shelter on highlands as their houses were inundated. He said although the government had sent relief for the flood-affected people, it is insufficient. But officials said the government has been providing various types of dry food, such as puffed rice and flattened rice.
Our Manikganj  Correspondent writes: The Jamuna rose further in the last 24 hours. The swelling Padma and Jamuna have fed their distributaries, like the Kaliganga, Ichhamoti, Dhaleshwari, Nuraniganga and the Gangdubi, and they are flowing above their danger levels, flooding low-lying areas of 18 unions in Ghior, Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Horirampurr upazilas.

 

Flood situation worsens

After remaining trapped in water for 11 days, thousands of people in flood-ravaged Kurigram yesterday (Wednesday) faced the fresh onslaught of a rising Dharala flowing 106cm above its danger level. The Brahmaputra, too, was flowing 98cm above its red mark, increasing the plight of people fighting a grim battle to survive along with their cattle. To make matters worse, water-borne diseases were spreading fast due to lack of safe drinking water. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said flood waters in low-lying areas along the Brahmaputra-Jamuna at Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj and Natore were likely to fall slightly. The Surma-Kushiyara at Sylhet and Sunamganj may recede a little in the next 48 hours. Reports from the worst-affected northern districts said that despite receiving some help from the administration, people are having a tough time to cope with the situation. Relief is inadequate and they are without work; cooking food is not possible as there is shortage of fuel and dry places. Even though the administration asked them to move away from the banks of rising rivers, lack of higher places made it difficult to camp it out with their cattle and arrange for provision for all of them, reports said. While the Kurigram people battle it out, those living downstream of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna too are being punished by the river. The Jamuna was flowing 56cm above the danger level at Sirajganj, leaving at least 200,000 people marooned by flood waters in low-lying areas of Kazipur, Chouhali, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur, Ullapara and Sadar upazilas. With flood waters entering the buildings, over 150 educational institutions have been closed. In Lalmonirhat, the situation deteriorated as the Dharala and Teesta rose further, flooding new areas and putting over 100,000 people in extreme difficulties, some of them losing their homes, reports said. In the Rohdah area of Sariakandi in Bogra, the only shelter for flood-affected people has gone under the waters of a rising Jamuna flowing 75cm above its danger level. Our Nilphamari Corresondent reported that though the Teesta has begun to recede since Tuesday night, the sufferings of the flood-affected are yet to end. People who took shelter on high lands, including Siltrab, Pirbo Gomoria, Chaiman Para embankment and the Chairman Para joutho embankment, several days ago are yet to take a decision to leave their temporary shelter places. The chairman of Tepakharibari union parishad, Md Rabiul Alom Shahin, told The Independent yesterday that at least 2,000 people of six unions in Dimla upazila of the district have taken shelter on highlands as their houses were inundated. He said although the government had sent relief for the flood-affected people, it is insufficient. But officials said the government has been providing various types of dry food, such as puffed rice and flattened rice. Our Manikganj Correspondent writes: The Jamuna rose further in the last 24 hours. The swelling Padma and Jamuna have fed their distributaries, like the Kaliganga, Ichhamoti, Dhaleshwari, Nuraniganga and the Gangdubi, and they are flowing above their danger levels, flooding low-lying areas of 18 unions in Ghior, Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Horirampurr upazilas.