Sufferings mount in flood-hit northeast

Fresh areas submerged, 6.0m people marooned


FE REPORT | Published: June 22, 2022 09:12:14 | Updated: June 23, 2022 14:49:53


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspecting the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and adjacent areas from a helicopter on Tuesday — PID

People in the worst flood-affected northeastern districts of the country are suffering increasingly as lack of necessary food, sanitation and pure drinking water has intensified.

Though river current has subsided to some extent, it was flowing largely above danger marks.

The government could so far record 36 casualties between June 17 and June 21 morning after electricity was restored in many areas, which helped open cell phones of hundreds of marooned people.

The number of deaths will be much higher than the DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) data published on June 21 noon as the health directorate, the disaster management department or local administrations could not reach many of the remotest areas, said sources.

Vast areas were newly flooded on Tuesday as water levels in the Teesta, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Bangali, Dhanu, Padma and Khoai rivers went above the danger marks in several regions, leaving several thousand people marooned.

Many parts of Tangail, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Feni, Jamalpur, Gaibandha and Rangpur districts were flooded on Tuesday, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

All major rivers of the country showed a rising trend while eight rivers were flowing 5.0 cm to 184 cm over the danger marks in 18 points.

Flood situation in Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Netrakona districts might improve while it might deteriorate in Kishoreganj district in the next 24 hours, said the source at FFWC.

In this period, the flood situation in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Jamalpur might remain steady while in Bogra, Sirajganj and Tangail it is likely to worsen.

Low lying areas in Faridpur, Shariatpur and Rajbari districts might be flooded in next 24 hours beginning at 2:00 pm on Tuesday.

The DGHS found that 36 people died in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts in the last five days from June 17 to June 21 morning.

Besides, 2,934 people were attacked with various diseases such as vision impairment, diarrhea, skin diseases or received snake bites during this period. Of the casualties, five deaths and 442 infections were reported in a day between June 20 and June 21 morning. Most of the deaths were caused by drowning and snakebites.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com

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