State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md. Enamur Rahman on Monday said recent devastating floods ravaging the country’s north and northeastern regions caused damages worth over Tk 868.12 billion.
The flooding was triggered by torrential rains in the second week of May in the north and eastern region, said the minister while talking to reporters following a meeting of an inter-ministerial disaster management coordination committee at the secretariat, reports UNB.
Heavy rainfall in the bordering Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam and an onrush of uphill waters aggravated the flood situation, he added.
“The water level of Surma River was flowing above its danger mark from May 13 due to the torrential rains and onrush of hilly water from the upstream, causing flood in Sylhet, Sunamganj and other adjacent areas which spread to 18 districts of the country,” he said.
Crops worth over Tk 12.57 billion were fully damaged and crops worth Tk 559.57 billion were damaged partially.
Besides, houses worth Tk 3.69 billion were damaged fully while the cost of partially damaged houses was over Tk 13.55 billion, he added.
The government has allocated 7.20 thousand metric tonnes of rice, Tk 94.4 million in cash, Tk 140,000 for dry foods, Tk 4 million for baby food, Tk 4 million for fodder, Tk 26.1 million for houses and 8,7000 bundles of corrugated iron-sheets for building houses from April 1 to July 21, he said.
The death toll from the floods in the country rose to 129 till Monday morning.
