Flood in Bangladesh
Flood claims 24 lives in 24 hrs; Death toll now 68
A total of 24 people have died due to flood in different parts of the country in 24 hours till Thursday morning, raising the total fatalities to 68.
Of them, 23 are from Sylhet division alone, according to the Directorate general of Health services (DGHS).
Among the deceased, 20 people have died by drowning in floodwater, two died in lightning strike and one in diarrhoea.
Also read: A week on, flood-hit people of Kurigram cry for relief
The deaths were recorded from May 17 to June 23.
Among a total of 185 flood-affected upazilas, 29 upazilas are in Sylhet division, 16 in Rangpur division, 19 in Mymensingh division and one in Chattogram division.
Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kurigram are the worst-hit districts where 13, 11, 10 and 9 upazilas were affected by flood respectively.
Also read: Cellular coverage restored at 1,166 sites in flood-hit districts
A total of 872 flood shelters have been opened, while 2,006 medical teams are working to provide various health services to the flood-affected people.
Flood situation in 6 Sylhet upazilas takes a turn for the worse
The flood situation in six upazilas of Sylhet worsened Wednesday as incessant rainfall and an onrush of water from upstream kept pounding the region for the last few days, leaving its major rivers in spate.
More than 1 lakh people of Zakiganj, Fenchuganj, Beani Bazar, Osmaninagar, Balaganj, and Gopalganj were left stranded due to flooding.
However, the water levels remained unchanged in the rivers Surma, Dholai, Piyain, and Luva and the flood situation on their banks improved slightly.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh army, navy, coast guard, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh are working round the clock to rescue the flood-hit people.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, flood water entered 40 points of Zakiganj upazila till Wednesday evening.
Also Read: Flood death toll climbs to 42: DGHS
Around 60 per cent of Fenchuganj and Balaganj went under water. Road communication on Balaganj-Khichripur and Fenchuganj-Balaganj route remained suspended.
The flood situation in Beani Bazar, Osmaninagar, Balaganj, and Gopalganj also worsened as new areas of the upazilas went under water as the water level in the River Kushiara kept rising.
SM Shahidul Islam, chief engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Sylhet, said water in the River Surma was flowing at 13.75 centimetres above the danger mark at Kanaighat point Wednesday evening.
Uncertainty looms over reopening of 10 flood-hit schools in Goalanda
Flooding has swamped 10 schools in Goalanda upazila making uncertain their reopening along with other educational institutions next week after over 17 months of Covid-induced closure.
The authorities at these schools - nine primary and one secondary - are in a fix since the premises these schools are still under water, according to sources at Upazila Primary Education Office. Water has entered into even some classrooms.
The authorities can’t decide on whether to ask the students to return to classrooms or wait until the flood water recedes. Good news is that floods have started easing in the area with water level in Padma River dropping.
Read Fight the Flood: Safety measures to take before, during, after floods in Bangladesh
According to the Goalanda Water Development Board, Padma River was flowing 62 centimetres above its danger level at Goalanda point even after it started receding.
Masudur Rahman, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, said “The school ground of Daulatdia Akkass Ali High School went under water and if the flood situation improves we hope that we can take classes on September 12.”
Primary Education Officer Mohammad Kabir Hossain, said “Nine school grounds are under water in the upazila while the classrooms of the schools were also inundated. The Padma river water started to recede for the past two days and we are hopeful about taking classes. But if the situation does not improve, it will be difficult to take classes.”
Also read: School playground turns into waterbody
The flood-hit schools are No 11 Chandkhan Para Government Primary School in Daulatdia, Char Daulatdia Government Primary School, Tenapocha Government Primary School, Betka Government Primary School, Bethuri Government Primary School, Ujanchar Majlishpur Government Primary School, Daulatdia Ghat Government Primary School and Shahjuddin Matubbar Para Government Primary School and a high school in the area.
Education minister Dr Dipu Moni has already said that the country's educational institutions will be ready to host students by September 9, before finally reopening three days later -- bringing an end to what Unicef has called the world's second-longest schools closure due to Covid-19.
“Ministry officials will complete field inspections within September 9 to observe whether the institutions are fully prepared to open their doors for students,” she said, after an inter-ministerial meeting at the cabinet division on September 5.
Also read: More of a pond than a school playground
The decision to reopen all the primary, secondary and higher secondary-level educational institutions on September 12 was finalised at the meeting.
Abu Syed Mandal, Upazila Project Implementation officer at Goalanda, said some 4,000 people have been marooned as flood situation in the upazila remained unchanged, causing immense sufferings to the people.
The government has distributed 36 metric tonnes of rice among the flood-hit people in the upazila in two phases.
Read Faridpur flood: Over 2000ha cropland submerged for nearly four weeks
Fight the Flood: Safety measures to take before, during, after floods in Bangladesh
From June to September the rainy season usually extends its reign in riverine Bangladesh. Rivers and canals, houses, lands, and many other places go underwater during the rainy season. During the monsoon, the main rivers and tributaries of Bangladesh flow in relatively high-water levels due to the combined effect of melted Himalayan glaciers and rainwater, which eventually turns into floods. The northern part of Bangladesh is mostly gets affected by floods. Water flows beyond the danger level. As a result, the people of the flooded areas have to live miserable lives. What can we do to stay safe or at least reduce the loss due to floods? Let’s get to know about some essential flood-safety measures we can take before, during, after a flood in Bangladesh.
Pre-flood safety measures
Bangladesh has already made significant progress and capabilities in dealing with the flood situation. The country has shown this success, especially in flood management. But several crises are still there, where the authorities need to focus on.
There are limitations in taking important initiatives, collective action, inefficiency in the proper and effective use of resources, taking up challenges in crisis, especially in the overall flood situation of the country, including backwardness. Currently, the flood situation and waterlogging problems are increasing day by day in the urban areas of Bangladesh too.
READ: Flood in Kurigram getting worse
Flood forecasting and early warning systems need to be made faster, more modern, and stronger. It should have the participation of important personalities of the local society. Moreover, we need to ensure greater involvement of the Bangladesh Water Development Board. It is important to involve various social organizations and local governments in flood and rainwater control in areas prone to floods and monsoon rains. We should also try to involve people from other areas and professions who are interested in working on risk management.
In particular, additional alternative initiatives need to be taken to deal with the floods. It is important to provide priority to come forward to deal with floods on an emergency basis at different stages. Furthermore, plans must also be taken on an urgent basis. The implemented initiatives should be evaluated and updated at least once a year. Upon identifying the risk areas, we need to understand our ability in the risk areas.
READ: Flood-affected people in Cox’s Bazar cry for food and drinking water
Involving the NGOs in the relevant sectors in the formation of emergency funds is also necessary. At the same time, ensure their accountability in the work assigned by the government.
On the other hand, the authorities need to make arrangements to save flood relief and rehabilitation equipment. This includes adequate storage, tin, sack, bamboo, wood, tent-making equipment, life jackets, water purifiers or other procedures, emergency medical supplies, liquid and dry food, drinking water, clothing, and temporary latrines. Ensuring a proper supply of essential items including drainage system, kerosene oil, hurricane, lamp, light, charge light, installation of tube wells, pipes, and transport, etc.
The number of relief and rescue workers needs to be further increased. In particular, training sessions are needed to be organized for these flood relief workers to acquire practical skills in various areas including water control, evacuation of victims.
READ: 1 lakh people stranded in Bagerhat as flooding worsens
In addition, it is important to adopt state-of-the-art technology, concept, and practical-economic analysis and action plan for the overall flood response situation, including river management, river protection, flood control, and rehabilitation of the affected.
Vita, tube well, the toilet should be raised as far as possible in advance. In this case, the level of the floodwater of the past should be kept in mind.
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