The recent devastating floods ravaging the country’s north and northeastern regions caused damages worth over Tk 86811.65 crore, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md. Enamur Rahman on Monday.

The flooding was triggered by torrential rains from second week of May in the north and eastern region, said the minister. Heavy rainfall in the bordering Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam and onrush of uphill waters aggravated the flood situation, he added.

Enamur was talking to reporters following a meeting of an inter-ministerial disaster management coordination committee’  at the Secretariat.

Also read: Govt to build 1,000 flood shelters: Enamur

“The water level of Surma 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.

The damages include crops worth over Tk 1258,53 crore (full)  and of Tk 55957.21 crore (partial), he said.

Besides, houses worth Tk 368.84 crore have been damaged fully while partially damaged houses worth over Tk 1355.03 crore, he added.

The damages to bridges, culverts, paved and dirt roads, schools, colleges and madrashas, mosques, temples and embankments have been estimated at Tk 86811.65 crore, said the minister.

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The government has allocated 7.20 thousand metric tonnes of rice, Tk 09.44 crore in cash, 1.40 lakh for dry foods, Tk 40 lakh for baby food, Tk 40 lakh for fodder,  Tk 2.61 crore 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 in the past 24 hours till Monday morning.