More areas inundated as flood spreads further

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Around 2 lakh people have been marooned in the northern and north eastern districts of the country as monsoon rains and onrush of water from hills across the border worsened the flood situation yesterday.

Rising waters in the two major rivers — Jamuna and Padma — might worsen the situation even further in the next 24 hours as these two rivers have crossed danger level at several points already, said officials at Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

The Surma in Sylhet is expected to rise further and cross the danger level at Sunamganj in the next 48 hours, the FFWC officials added.

Low-lying areas in Sirajganj, Pabna, Tangail, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Dohar and Nawabganj are likely to be flooded soon, reports BSS.

Vegetables and crops, especially Aman seedlings and recently planted Aman plants, have been damaged by floodwaters and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and skin diseases are on the rise.

Our correspondent from Sirajganj reports, the Jamuna crossed the danger mark there yesterday evening, inundating 46 unions of five upazilas and marooning thousands of villagers. Many of the affected people took shelter at nearby highlands and embankments. The newly inundated upazilas are Chowhali, Shahjadpur and Belkuchi.

Around 50 more educational institutions including primary schools were forced to close as after being deluged by flash flood.

Water Development Board (WDB) officials said the flood situation may take a serious turn within the next few hours and submerge all nine upazilas of the district, as torrents of water from upstream continues to gush into the low lying areas.

The Brahmhaputra embankment near Ranigram point has turned vulnerable again due to the intense currents of the Jamuna. Kunkunia Bridge on the Sirajganj-Kazipur road is also at risk, said officials at Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

Meanwhile, various waterborne diseases including skin disease, diarrhoea and dysentery broke out in the area. Local hospitals have been having difficulties to treat the unexpectedly large number of patients as the hospitals lack adequate supply of saline and medicines, doctors working at the hospitals said.

Our Netrakona correspondent reports, over 50,000 people have been marooned due to flash flood while more areas are likely to be flooded soon as water level of the rivers Sumeshwary, Mogra, Kangsha and Dhanu continue to rise.

The affected upazilas are Durgapur, Kalmakanda, Mohongonj, Khaliajuri and Madan, WDB officials said. Vast areas of Netrakona sadar and Atpara upazilas are likely to go under water in the next 24 hours, they predicted.

Vast areas of Birishiri, Kakoyirgora, Gaokandia and Bakoljura union in Durgapur upazila, Langura, Rangchati, Karnai, Pogla and Koilati union in Kalmakanda, Mohongonj, Madan and Khaliajuri are now under floodwater, Sources said.

The floodwaters damaged 80 percent of Aman seedlings, Aman crops and vegetables fields, locals said.

The road communication between the district headquarters and Durgapur upazila sadar and Netrakona and Khalijuri upazila has been disrupted due to high waters.

Our correspondent from Gaibandha reports, around 60,000 people have been marooned by flash flood in different char areas of four upazilas.

Three major rivers — Ghagot, Teesta and Brahmaputra are now flowing above the danger mark, according to WDB officials in the district.

New cracks developed along the Brahmaputra embankment at Baguria in Gideri union while Gaibandha Town Protection Embankment on the river Ghagot turned vulnerable at three points.

“Surging water from the River Ghagot might overflow the embankment,” said a WDB official.

Floodwater sipped through the breach of Singra embankment under Fulchari upazila and flooded vast areas of adjacent five unions causing heavy damage to croplands.

The bank of River Brahmaputra is eroding alarmingly and flood situation has been getting worse at Sayedpur, Cirakuthi, Balashi and Ratanpur with water level rising fast. So far, the erosion washed away homesteads of 150 people.

Our Bogra staff correspondent reports, the Jamuna crossed danger level at Kalitala point of Sariakandi and caused damage to flood protection embankment at two different points at Kalitala.

A man on a boat collects drinking water from a roadside Wasa pipe near Trimohony Bazar in Khilgaon in the capital as drinking water crisis has gripped the flooded low-lying eastern part of the city. PHOTO: STAR

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