flood situation
Flood death toll stands at 110: DGHS
Although flood situation continues to improve in most places it claimed three more lives in Netrokona, Kurigram and Moulvibazar districts in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the total fatalities to 110.
All of them downed in floodwater, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Sylhet flood situation improves as rivers recede
The total deaths were recorded between May 17 to July 6, it said.
The fatalities occurred due to lightning strikes, diarrhea, skin diseases, snakebites, electrocution, landslides and drowning.
Of the deceased, forty people died in Mymensingh, 57 in Sylhet, 12 in Rangpur and one in Dhaka division, it said.
Besides, some 13,892 people have been affected by flood during the period, it added.
Among a total of 70 flood-hit upazilas, 33 are in Sylhet division, 16 in Rangpur division, 20 in Mymensingh division and one in Chattogram division.
Read: Flood: Netrokona fish farm owners suffer losses of Tk 11.57 cr
Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kurigram are the worst-hit districts where 13, 11, 10 and 9 upazilas were affected by flood respectively.
A total of 1,944 flood shelters have been opened, while 2,051 medical teams are working to provide various health services to the flood-affected people.
Sylhet records highest rainfall in June in 62 years
Sylhet district recorded the highest rainfall in June in 62 years, said officials of Sylhet Weather Observatory Office.
The district recorded 2456.02 mm of rainfall last month, the highest rainfall recorded after 1956, it said.
The average rainfall in June in the district is 818.4 mm but it experienced 2456.02 mm rains which is 77.78% higher than average, it said.
Syed Ahmed Chowdhury, Senior Meteorologist of Sylhet Weather Observatory office, said “In June Sylhet district experienced an unnatural rainfall. Showers are seen 22 days of the month on average but it rained 28 days this June. 303.6 mm of rainfall was recorded in a single day on June 18.”
Read: Sylhet flood situation improves as rivers recede
In 2004, 1394 mm of rainfall was recorded in June in Sylhet, he said.
Flood situation in Sylhet
The overall flood situation in Sylhet continued to improve with the fall of waters in all major rivers.
At 6pm on Monday, the Surma was flowing 34 cm above the danger level after its water level dropped 8 cm in 24 hours, according to the district Water Development Board (WDB).
Though the water level of the Kushiara river increased a little bit at Amalshid point.
However, flood survivors across the northeastern district continue to suffer from the deluge. While many have taken refuge in makeshift shelters, others are staying in tents on the highway and roads.
According to the local administration, 29,99,433 members of 4,84,383 families have been affected by the flood while 40,000 dwelling houses were destroyed.
SM Shahidul Islam, the river water in most of the point has started to recede but in a slow process.
Read:Flood waters receding again in Sylhet but food, water crises persist
Government allocation
The government has provided Tk 2.57 crore till July 3 for the flood-hit people in Sylhet. Besides, 1,612 metric tonnes of rice were also disbursed among the flood- affected people, said Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Mujibur Rahman.
Besides, the government also provided Tk 10 lakh for baby food and fodder each and 20,218 packets of dry food.
A letter was also sent to the authorities concerned seeking Tk 50 lakh cash, Tk 20 lakh for baby food and animal feed to tackle the post-flood situation, said Mujibur.
Sirajganj’s flood situation improves, people’s sufferings continue
The flood situation in Sirajganj showed signs of improvement on Monday as the water level of the Jamuna River dropped.
The river was flowing 65cm below the danger mark at Sirajganj point while 57cm below the danger level at Kazipur point on Monday morning, said Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer (HQ) of Sirajganj Water Development Board.
He said that the water has receded from many houses in the flood-hit areas and water may recede from most of the low-lying areas in the next two to three days.
Also read: Flood Water receding, but not the diseases, food, and water crisis
More than 50,000 people in 38 unions of 5 upazilas on the banks of the Jamuna River were stranded due to the flood.
With flood waters receding, the miseries of the residents of the char areas in the district have increased.
Besides, 9,500 hectares of cropland have been damaged due to the flood.
The flood survivors are crying for relief. Apart from facing a food crisis, they need pure drinking water, fuel and fodder.
According to district administration sources, 84 educational institutions have been shut due to the ongoing flood, hampering the studies of the students.
As water level in the Jamuna started to fall river banks erosion has taken a serious turn in many places in the district.
Also read: Receding flood waters reveal disastrous damage in Sylhet
However, sand-filled bags were dumped at vulnerable points to protect the area from erosion.
Besides, 184 shelters have been opened for the flood victims and 23 medical teams have been formed to provide services round-the-clock.
Showers likely in parts of country: Met office
More rains are likely to drench Bangladesh in the next 24 hours, with monsoon being fairly active over the country and moderate over the North Bay, the weather department said Monday.
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at isolated places over the Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions,” the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in its forecast.
Read:Heavy rainfall likely in northern region at end of June or 1st week of July
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
The Met office recorded the highest 103mm rainfall in Tetulia of Rangpur in 24 hours till 6am today (Monday).
Meanwhile, the flood situation in the northern region and low-lying areas of the central region may improve, but it may continue for more days due to heavy rainfall at the end of June or first week of July, according to Bangladesh Weather Observatory Team (BWOT), an independent weather research group.
Read: More rain forecast, but flood situation in 11 districts likely to improve Sunday
The flood situation is unlikely to worsen further as the rainfall may not continue for a longer period, it added.
Besides, the water levels of the major rivers in the country is falling, said the Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in their latest bulletin.
Flood situation worsens in parts of Sylhet
The flood situation in some parts of Sylhet has worsened, with the rise in water levels of the Kushiara river in the past 48 hours, officials have said.
According to the local Water Development Board, the Kushiara was flowing above the danger level at various points on Friday morning.
Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Gopalganj, Phenchuganj, Osmaninagar, Biswanath, South Surma of Sylhet, Borolekha, Kulaura, Rajnagar, Juri, and Jagannathpur of Sunamganj have been inundated by the waters of the Kushiara.
Read: Flood situation in 6 Sylhet upazilas takes a turn for the worse
On the other hand, flood waters have receded in many areas of the district, including Sylhet city, officials said.
Although the water levels in the Surma river have decreased in the last four days, it was still flowing above the danger mark till Friday morning.
Sylhet City Corporation chief engineer Nur Azizur Rahman said that relief materials have been distributed among the flood-hit people. "Ward councillors are coordinating the distribution."
Brace for more showers in 24 hours!
More rains are likely to drench Bangladesh in the next 24 hours, with monsoon being fairly active over the country and moderate over the North Bay, the weather department said Thursday.
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at many places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Dhaka divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country,” the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in its forecast.
Read: Flood situation in 6 Sylhet upazilas takes a turn for the worse
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. At the same time, the speed of the temporary gusty wind may increase from 30 to 40 kmph, as per the forecast.
The Met office recorded the highest 96mm rainfall in Madaripur in 24 hours till 6am on Thursday.
Flood claims 22 lives in Sylhet division in 7 days, says divisional health director
Twenty-two people have died in recent floods in Sylhet division since June 15, said Divisional Health Director Himangshu Lal Roy on Tuesday.
“We have received information that 22 people have died in Sylhet division. Of them, 14 died in Sylhet district, three in Moulvibazar district and five in Sunamganj district,” he told UNB.
Also read: Woman dies as boat sinks in Netrokona floodwater
Among them, bodies of two people-a woman and her son- were recovered three days after they drowned in floodwater in Jointapur upazila of the district on Tuesday, he said.
The fatalities occurred due to lightning strikes, snakebite, electrocution, landslides and drowning during the period, said Himangshu.
According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) a total of 36 people have died in the recent flood across the country from May 17 to June 21.
Of the deceased, five people died in Mymensingh district, four in Netrokona, three each in Jamalpur and Sherpur districts under Mymensingh division, one in Lalmonirhat, two in Kurigram under Rangpur division, 10 in Sylhet, five in Sunamganj and three in Moulvibazar district under Sylhet division, it said.
Woman dies as boat sinks in Netrokona floodwater
A 32-year-old woman drowned as a boat sank in floodwater at Jurail village in Kendua upazila of Netrokona district on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Julekha Begum, wife of Hares Mia of the village.
Also read:Man injured while receiving flood relief dies in Sylhet
Mir Mahbubur Rahman, inspector of Kendua police station, said Julekha, her 7-year-old daughter Tanjina, sister-in-law Nazmunnahar and two others were going to Jurail Haor by a small boat Tuesday morning.
At one stage, Tanjina fell into water from the boat. Julekha managed to save her daughter but she drowned in floodwater.
Also read: Flood situation worsens in Kurigram, over 2 lakh affected
PM performs ziarat at Shahjalal, Shahparan shrines in Sylhet
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday performed ziarat at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) during a brief visit to Sylhet.
PM Hasina, who arrived here this morning to inspect the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakuna and adjacent areas, first went to the mazar of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in the divisional city in the afternoon.
Also read: PM in Sylhet: Flood victims will be rehabilitated, nothing to worry about
She spent there for some time recited from the holy Quran and offered fateha and munajat.
Later, she visited the mazars of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) where she performed the same rituals.
Flood situation remains grim across country
The overall flood situation in the country deteriorated further on Monday due to the rise in water levels in various rivers, as flood waters cut off road communications at places and left thousands of people marooned.
The situation in the worst-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts remained static, with the easing of rains aiding the receding of flood waters from different parts of the districts.
The flood-affected were still going through immense suffering for want of food and drinking water.
Meanwhile, four people were killed in the district due to flood. Three of them drowned and one was electrocuted.
The Surma river was flowing 55 cm above its danger level in Sylhet and 1.15 cm above the danger mark at Kanaighat, while Kushiara River was flowing 1.84 cm above its danger mark at Amalshid, 63 cm above at Sheula point and 0.5 cm above at Fenchuganj point around 9 am on Monday.
AKM Niloy Pasha, deputy-assistant engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board, said “The water level of Surma River will decrease further. But new areas have been flooded in Fenchuganj upazila due to the swelling of Kushiara River."
Besides, the flood waters in Goainghat, Jointapur, Sadar Kanaighat, Jakiganj, Golapganj, Beanibazar, Biswanath, Osmaninagar and Balaganj upazilas of the district started to recede on Monday.
Sylhet city residents also reported receding flood waters in the suburbs of the cities, including Taltola, Teroratan and Ghasitula parts of the city.
People in many flood-hit areas are still living under darkness however, due to power not being restored fully as yet, and the gas supply was also cut off in those areas, causing unspeakable sufferings to the flood victims.
Some volunteers were seen wading through chest-deep water to provide water bottles to the flood-hit people in the city who remained stranded in the first or second floors of buildings.
Meanwhile, mobile networks remained down in major parts of the city.
A person called Rahim, who lives in Dhaka for work purposes, said “I came to Sylhet as my wife and two children are in Sunamganj. I could not reach them due to the failure of the mobile network.”
Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj District, Jahangir Hossain, said 90 percent of the area in Sunamganj district is under water and 70,000 people have taken shelter in 220 homes.
People living in remote areas of the district failed to reach the shelter homes due to poor transport system and the Army personnel are still conducting their rescue operation to evacuate the flood-victims, he said.
In Bogura, many areas of the district have been flooded due to the swelling of the Jamuna River.
The Jamuna River was flowing 54 cm above its danger level at Mathura point in Sariakandi upazila around 6 pm on Monday.
Some 1,508 hectares of land have been affected by the flood water, while 98 educational institutions were closed.
A total of 1384 hectares of land have been damaged in the flood, said Abdul Halim, Sariakandi upazila agriculture officer.
In Sherpur, Brahmmaputra river was flowing 30 cm above its danger level at Bridge point in Sadar upazila at 6 pm on Monday.
The flood water entered many houses along the Kulurchar-Beparipara char in the upazila.
In Habiganj, flood situation worsened further as the Khoai river was flowing 147 cm above its danger mark at Masulia point in sadar upazila.
Around 1000 villages in four upazilas of the district have been flooded, rendering thousands of people marooned.
The local administration has already opened 118 shelter homes and provided dry food and relief to the flood victims.
In Moulvibazar, the flood situation is grim due to the rise in water level of Manu River .
A total of 2.5 lakh people have been marooned as the water level of Manu and Kushiara rivers were flowing above its danger level.
Power connection in Kulaura, Juri and Borolekha upazilas of the district have been suspended due to the worsening flood situation.
So far, 161 educational institutions including 115 primary schools have been closed due to the flood.
Mir Nahid, deputy commissioner of the Moulvibazar district said already 98 shelter homes were opened where 15,000 people have taken shelter.
In Lalmonirhat, Teesta river was flowing 31 cm above its danger level at Doani point in Hatibandha upazila of the district around 4 pm, said Asafuddoulla, executive engineer of Water Development Board.
The residents along the river bank have been asked to take shelter in safer places.
Some 10,000 people in different parts of the district have been marooned by the flood water.
In Feni, ten villages in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas have been flooded following the breakdown of a portion of the dam on the Muhuri river, due to heavy rains and an onrush of hilly water.
The Muhuri was flowing 118 cm above its danger level on Monday evening.
Nur Nabi, sub-divisional engineer of Feni Water Development Board, said all the gates of the barrage on the Muhuri river were opened to tackle the flood situation.
Vast areas of North Daulatpur, South Daulatpur, Ghaniyamora and Bairagpur of Fulgazi sadar union were flooded following the collapse of the embankment, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Fulgazi Ashrafur Nahar.
Also Read: Brahmaputra, Dharla keep swelling; More areas submerged in Kurigram, Gaibandha
“We are observing the situation constantly,” she added.
A vast tract of cropland went underwater and many fish enclosures were washed away by floodwaters that also damaged many houses and roads in the area.
Zahir Uddin, executive engineer of Feni Water Development Board, said the water level n the Muhuri River was flowing below the danger level. "If it doesn't rain anymore, the water will recede quickly," he hopes.
The Water Development Board will take necessary measures after inspecting the damage to the dam on the Muhuri, he said, adding that repair work will start as soon as the water recedes.
In Kurigram, about 250,000 people spread across more than 200 chars in 49 unions have been marooned.
Rowmari upazila is the worst-hit area in the district, as one lakh people have been stranded there by floodwater.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim said control rooms have been opened in the deputy commissioner's office and in each upazila to tackle the situation. “361 shelters and various educational institutions are kept ready,” the DC informed.
Meanwhile the cross dams adjacent to Sardob, Bangturghat and Jatrapur market are at risk of collapse.
Mahmud Hasan, sub-divisional engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, said the water level of the Brahmaputra and the Dharla may rise further, deteriorating the flood situation here. “That’s why the risky dams are being repaired.”
According to the Kurigram Agriculture Extension Department, 10,894 hectares of cropland have gone under floodwaters till Sunday.
In Gaibandha, although the Teesta is flowing below the danger level, the other rivers have swollen.
According to the Water Development Board, apart from Brahmaputra, the Ghaghat river in Gaibandha town is flowing 32 cm above the danger level, inundating at least 35 chars and low-lying areas in four upazilas.
Abu Raihan, executive engineer of the Water Development Board, said the water level may continue to increase in the next few days. People are taking shelter on the dams to save their lives and property, as they have no access to any higher ground.