Flood still deteriorating, 0.16m people marooned


SAJIBUR RAHMAN | Published: August 29, 2021 18:28:59 | Updated: August 29, 2021 19:47:18


Flood still deteriorating, 0.16m people marooned

More than 160,000 people are marooned in Bogura, Rajbari, Kurigram and Sirajganj districts as major rivers, especially Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dhaleswari and Atrai, are flowing above the danger level.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are in rising trend, which may continue for the next 48 hours, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said on Monday.

The Ganges river is in a falling trend which may continue in the next 48 hours, while the Padma river is in steady state, which may rise in next 24 hours.

Except for the Kushiyara, major rivers in the North-Eastern part of the country are in a falling trend, which may continue in the next 48 hours.

In the next 24 hours, the flood situation at low lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpour, Bogura, Tangail, Sirajganj, Pabna, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Shariatpur and Chandpur districts may deteriorate, the centre said.

The Jamuna river at Porabari Point may cross danger level in the next 24-48 hours, it said.

Of 109 rivers, the water has been rising in 53 rivers while 52 are in a declining trend and four remain steady.

According to a report prepared by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Saturday, a total of 7,515 families, who have been stranded during the flood situation, were affected in Rajbari district. A total of 67 villages under 13 unions in five sub-districts have been flooded in the district.

Tk 1.0 million and 213 tonnes of rice have been allotted for the flood-hit people, the report said.

Of the allocated amount, Tk 110,000 and 65.5 tonnes of rice have already been distributed among the flood-hit people, it said.

In Bogura, at least 45,200 people from 11,150 families, who have been stranded during the flood situation, have also been affected.

However, when this correspondent asked an official of the country's National Disaster Response Coordination Center (NDRCC) under the ministry about how many people in different districts have already been affected and marooned in flood situations, he could not give the answer due to unavailability of data.

Talking to The Financial Express, Md Rasel Miah, Upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) of Sariakandi in Bogura, said at least 40,000 people have been stranded.

A little portion of cropland including sapling of paddy in the area have been damaged, he said.

Citing the local water development board, Mr Rasel said the situation might improve in the coming days.

Executive Engineer of the board’s Kurigram office Md. Ariful Islam said some 55,000 people in the char areas of Chilmari, Nageshwari, Sadar, Bhurungamari, Ulipur, Raomari and Char Rajibpur upazilas have been marooned.

A good portion of cropland, mainly paddy fields in the char areas, have also been inundated, leaving several hundreds of farmers in peril, he said.

He also feared that more than 100,000 people might have been stranded as the water and Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers are expected to flow above the danger mark until September 1.

Talking to The Financial Express, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board, Sirajganj, Shofiqul Islam said nearly 50,000-55,000 people in low-lying areas and char land under Sadar, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Belkuchi and Enayetpur upazilas of Sirajganj have been stranded at homes as Jamuna waters inundated villages in the past few days.

About 100,000 people are expected to be marooned as the water level of the Jamuna may rise until September 2, he said.

Some points of the Jamuna river are flowing 33cm above the danger mark, Islam said, adding that the situation is expected to improve from September 3.

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