Inundations cause many kinds of damages to lives and properties. In flood-affected areas, people are not fully out of risk even after the flood water recedes. Here are some necessary precautions to save adults and children from diseases and accidents after the floods.  Necessary Safety Measures to Minimise Health Risk after Floods Purify Water Before Drinking After a flood, waterborne diseases become a significant risk. To prevent water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, etc it is essential to manage potable water for drinking, cooking, and washing cookeries. When the flood water recedes, people should purify water by boiling or using water-purification tablets. Besides these, storing rainwater can be a temporary solution.   Read more: Ways to Purify Water during Flood, Disaster, Emergency Situations During inundation, tubewells may get contaminated with low levels of faecal organisms.  However, water from deep tubewell is safer.  Avoid Contaminated Water The contaminated flood water should not be used for drinking, cooking, or washing clothes, as it may contain harmful bacteria and pollutants that could affect health. People should avoid wading through the remnant flood water while walking or passing by. The associated risk of touching or playing in the stagnant flood water should be discussed with children.  Read more: How to Help Flood-affected People in Bangladesh Protection from Snakes and Insects  Floods often displace wildlife, including snakes, which can pose a threat. Be vigilant in and around the homestead area. Consult with kids to avoid playing in areas with tall grass or debris to avoid snake bites.  Furthermore, use insect repellents for protection against mosquitoes, which can spread diseases like dengue. Sleeping under a mosquito net is also advisable for added protection. Read more: How to Stay Safe from Snakes During and After Flood

Kariman Begum in flood-hit Kharjanir Char in Gaibandha was sitting on a banana tree raft in front of her house hoping to get some relief. “No one has come yet to see how we are surviving or what we are eating”, she told UNB about her ordeal. Skin diseases caused by flood water is adding to the miseries of flood-affected people in char upazilas of Gaibandha. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea are also a concern. Read: Receding flood waters reveal disastrous damage in Sylhet Finding no other solution Kariman and her neighbours Halima, Motin Kobazzaman, Mithu Mia from the area said they are applying turmeric mixed with kerosene oil for a little relief from the constant itching. “I can’t find a moment of sleep due to the painful itching and fear that my seven-year old son can get washed away by flood water any moment. As it happened to many other families,” said kariman. The authorities have claimed an adequate number of medical teams has been sent to the flood-hit region but none has yet shown up in the neighborhood of Kariman yet The drinking water crisis in this region is immense. “Even amid this situation of extreme crisis we have to pay boat fare to just bring drinkable water from across the river during daytime,” said Kariman. The Brahmaputra and Ghaghat River in Gaibandha were flowing a bit below the danger level though some others were receding on Sunday. Read: Improvement in Kurigram’s flood does little to mitigate sufferings “Residents of 25 char unions including Kamarjani, Mollar Char, kapasia, Haripur, Fazlupur, Uria, Ratanpur, Fulchari of Sundarganj, Saghata, Fulchari, and Gaibandha sadai upazilas remained stranded by flood water till Thursday,” said Motiar Rahman, Chairman of Kamarjani union. “Many houses have little dry place to cook food. They are shifting their stoves to rafts and they can't afford cooked meals three times a day. They don't even have any toilets,” he said. According to the authority, a total of 60 flood shelters have been opened in the district but people could take refuge in only 12 of them. For most of the centres are under water or threatened by river erosion. “Many people are struggling with their only income source, cattle that could not be sheltered at the centers. Many have crossed the river with their cattle to save them,” said the locals. “So far only 135 people including men, women, and children have taken shelter in the centres. However, 125 MT of rice, Tk 6 lakh, and another 15 lakhs for buying baby food have been allocated for the assistance of flood-affected people in Gaibandha,” said SM Foyez Uddin, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (in-charge).

As Surma river was flowing 13 cm below the danger level in Sunamganj on Friday morning, flood water started receding but smell of rotten clogged wastes made the municipal area air heavy.  The UNB reporter visited the municipal area and saw wastes that remained clogged in flood water at North Arpin Nagar, Shaheb bari Ghat, Moddho bazar, Surma Market, Alfat Square Point, Kalibari, old bus stand, jamai Para, Hazir Para and many other areas. Read: Flood situation improves in Kurigram Residents of the area are struggling to go out to run daily errands even after the water began receding. “The area was stinking so much that I couldn’t step out from the house since morning,” said Ruhul Amin , a resident of the North Arpin nagar area. “The flood water has receded but our sufferings did not end due to this rotten waste,” said Ashim Ray from Natun Para area. Read: Strong current disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services, 400 vehicles stranded However, Sunamganj municipal mayor Nader Bakht said, ``We have started cleaning the city immediately after the water started retreating.” Sunamganj Civil Surgeon Dr Ahmmed Hossain said,” No one fell ill with water borne diseases yet and 123 medical teams are ready to provide services.”    

When the country is celebrating Eid-ul Azha in a festive manner, flood victims in Kurigram are suffering greatly as rivers started to swell on Saturday.

The flood condition in Sherpur deteriorated as the water level of Brahmaputra River continued to rise on Friday.