Flood approaches Dhaka

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Floodwater is approaching the eastern fringe of the capital as water levels of all major rivers surrounding the city continue to rise.

Even though the Buriganga at Dhaka is still flowing 32cm below the danger level, the Balu at Demra, Turag at Mirpur, the Tongi canal at Tongi and the Lakhya at Narayanganj have risen by 30-39cm.

Due to the absence of a flood-control embankment at the eastern part of the city, three quarters of Bashabo, Nandipara and Trimohini went under water. Boats have become the only means of transport in those areas.

Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) sources said more parts of the Dhaka city are likely to be inundated in the next few days.

Water scientist and former executive engineer of FFWC Mohammad Selim Bhuiyan told The Daily Star that the flow of water in the Brahmaputra is falling at all upstream points while the water levels of the Padma have started to decline at some points. The floodwater would now submerge the middle part of the country, which includes Dhaka, Demra, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Munshiganj.

During the next 48 hours, the water levels of the rivers surrounding Dhaka would rise sharply, he told.

Meanwhile, Disaster Management Bureau sources said school and college buildings and other government buildings would be used as flood shelters.

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) hospital had to set up tents yesterday for the ever-increasing number of diarrhoea and cholera patients overwhelming the hospital. Usually, the hospital has 150-200 patients but now it has at least 500 patients.

Doctor SK Roy, senior scientist of ICDDR,B said most patients were from the low-lying areas of Dhaka city and they were infected with diarrhoea and cholera by drinking impure water.

Earlier, in 2004, 78 unions including Dohar, Nawabganj, Keraniganj, Savar, Dhamrai and Dhaka city were inundated. Thirty-nine people died during that time.

At least 81 people have so far been killed in floods across the country and the flood situation is likely to deteriorate further in the country’s central parts as the water levels of all major rivers remain above the danger mark.

Around 70 lakh people have been affected by the floods. The floods hit 215 upazilas of 38 districts, causing colossal damage to life and properties.

Flood situation in Manikganj, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Madaripur and Shariatpur, and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is expected to further deteriorate in the next 24 hours.

The swelling of Tongi canal and Turag and Shitalakhya may also increase aggravating the flood situation in Bhairab and eastern part of capital Dhaka.

However, the flood situation in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Netrakona and Sunamganj will improve in a couple of days as water levels recede. The flood situation in Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Pabna and Tangail districts is expected to remain unchanged, UNB reports.

Our Manikganj correspondent reports: The overall flood situation of the district deteriorated yesterday even though the water level of the Jamuna went down 2cm at Aricha.

Around eight lakh people have been marooned in the district. They are facing food and drinking water crisis as most of the tube wells went under floodwater.

Julekha, 35, wife of a farmer of Mohadevpur under Shibalaya upazila, said her house went under six days ago. She with her husband and two children took shelter at Mohadevpur Girls School. She said she sold her goat and spent all her savings on food.

Anura, 60, a widow and a labour, had no money to buy food. She said nobody came to her with any relief until yesterday when army chief Moeen U Ahmed gave her relief materials at Borongail Gopal Chandra High School.

Our Munshiganj correspondent reports: The flood situation of the district deteriorated yesterday and a section of the Munshiganj-Baligaon-Louhojang-Maoa-Dhaka road was washed away.

Road communication between Baligaon and Louhojang snapped. A section of Dhaka-Dohar bypass was washed away at Kamargaon.

Rising river waters inundated the approach road to the Muktarpur ferry pontoon threatening to snap communication between Dhaka and Munshiganj.

Due to a breach in Maoa-Bhagyakul embankment at Louhojang, 50,000 people have been marooned.

Five flood shelters have been opened but relief distribution is inadequate in comparison to demands. According to government officials concerned, 38 unions of six upazilas have been inundated.

Our Netrakona correspondent reports: Flood situation slightly improved in Netrakona but sufferings of the affected people continue due to lack of food, drinking water and medicines.

The affected people of different flood-affected areas alleged that the distributed relief materials distributed by the government were insufficient.

The flood inundated about 400 villages in 10 upazilas of the district affecting at least four lakh people. Many have taken shelter on higher grounds and flood shelters, while some are still living under the open sky.

Our correspondent in Nilphamari reports: The flood situation of the district improved as the floodwater from the Teesta was receding and all rivers of the district including Charalkata, Jamuneswari, Deunai, Burikhora, Buriteesta, Dhaijan started to withdraw.

The erosion of the bank-protection of the Teesta at Uttar Dauwabari in Jaldhaka upazila has taken a turn for the worse. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials with the help of joint forces were trying to repair the damage.

Diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases have been reported in many areas. An army mobile medical team is moving to the affected areas.

Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), an NGO, distributed 1,500kg of flattened rice, 500kg of molasses, 84-dozen candles and 84-dozen matchboxes among 500 flood victims.

This NGO also sanctioned 10 tube wells to be set up to provide drinking water. All temporary flood shelters have been closed down and the flood victims are returning home.

Our correspondent in Pabna reports: Sufferings of the flood affected people in Pabna increased as the victims continue to deal with drinking water and food shortages and insufficient relief distribution.

More areas were flooded in the district. The Padma is swelling rapidly and at least 50 villages of Shujanagar upazila went under floodwater yesterday.

According to a source, Sagarkandi union of Shujanagar upazila has totally gone under water. Manikhat, Shatbaria, Bhaina and Najirgange union and three wards of Shujanagar municipality were flooded.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO) sources said at least 38 unions of six upazilas of the district were flood affected. Around 1.77 lakh people of Bera, Faridpur, Bhangura, Chatmohar, and Ishwardi upazilas were marooned.

Only 96 tonnes of rice have been distributed in Faridpur, Bera and Bhangura upazilas of the district. DRRO officials said the allocation of relief is insufficient for the huge number of flood-affected people.

The district administration has only 100 tonnes of rice and Tk 2 lakh for relief distribution, sources said. The administration sought 100 tonnes of rice, Tk 13 lakh, 20,000 saris and lungis for the flood-affected people, said Abul Hosssain, an official of DRRO, yesterday.

A total of 23,480 acres of cropland have been damaged in Pabna while 19,801 acres crops were partly damaged, official sources said.

Our correspondent in Brahmanbaria reports: Two infants drowned in floodwater at Brahmanbaria yesterday.

They were identified as Rakib Mia, 3, of Potoir in Nasirnagar upazila and Priti Akter, 2, of Araishida in Ashuganj upazila of the district.

Sixty-five villages including several areas of Brahmanbaria municipality were inundated yesterday.

Our correspondent in Tangail reports: The overall flood situation in Tangail remained unchanged yesterday but scarcity of food and drinking water continues.

According to district administration sources, about 5.36 lakh people of 95 unions in 12 upazilas were flood affected. Besides, crops on 25,410 acres of land were completely damaged while crops on 59,809 acres were partially damaged, they added.

The district administration distributed 100 tonnes of rice, Tk 5 lakh in cash and Tk 1 lakh for building houses so far.

Several cracks developed in the Tarakandi-Bhuapur flood-control embankment at Bhuapur upazila and repair works were going on with the help of joint forces.

The repair works of the damaged Compartmentalisation Pilot Project embankment at Gala of Sadar upazila are also going on. A total of 32 shelters were opened for the flood-affected people in the district and so far 8,500 people took shelter in those.

Six people including five children drowned in floodwater at different places in Sadar and Dhobaura upazilas of Mymensingh in the last 24 hours, UNB reports.

The deceased were identified as Ankhi Biswas, 5, Moslem, 4, Kasu, 45, Rubel, 16 and Sahida, 7, of Sadar upazila, and Nur Banu, 7, of Dhobaura upazila.

Our Jessore correspondent reports: Heavy downpour and over-flowing rivers inundated 2,100 hectares of croplands of Bhagharpara upazila in Jessore.

Our correspondent in Satkhira reports: Over 5 lakh people in 28 unions of Kalaroa and Tala upazilas in Satkhira and Jhhikargachha, Manirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Jessore remain marooned while new areas in Kabodak basin went under floodwater.

Crops on over 2,000 acres of lands and over 351 houses were damaged in those areas. Sufferings of the affected people in the region are increasing due to shortages of food, drinking water and medicines.

Our correspondent in Barisal reports: Many people became marooned as flash floods occurred due to sharp rise in water levels of the Meghna, Arial Khan, Tentulia and other tributaries.

Eight thousand people have been marooned in Bhola while 30,000 people have been affected in Muladi upazila of Barisal.

In Barisal Sadar, different areas under Charbaria, Charmonai, Sayestabad, Charbadna and Charamoddi unions were inundated by the Kirtonkhola and more than 1,000 families were affected.

A breach in an embankment led to the inundation of different areas in Donarkandi, Magura, Duniarkandi, Chalbol under Khanjapur union of Gournadi upazila.

Our correspondent in Chandpur reports: Many new areas of Chandpur were inundated yesterday.

In Raj Rajeswar union under Sadar upazila, around 20,000 people have been marooned during the last few days. In Matlab Pura area, all the educational institutions were declared closed.

Due to tremendous currents in the Meghna and the presence of whirlpools, Water Development Board, Chandpur officials sealed off the Town Protection Embankment on the Meghna for people yesterday.

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