United News of Bangladesh

Persistent rain has flooded several parts of Thailand’s capital since Thursday afternoon, disrupting traffic and forcing some residents to leave their homes. Officials said Saturday that rainfall of more than 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) had accumulated in major canals across Bangkok. Floodwaters spread through several parts of the city, particularly central and eastern areas, leaving roads submerged and bringing traffic to a standstill. Thailand’s Meteorological Department forecast more heavy rain across most parts of the country through Sunday, attributing the conditions to a strong low-pressure system over the central region and increasingly active southwest monsoon winds. As of Saturday, flooding had affected more than 84,000 people in 21 provinces across Thailand, with the central region among the hardest-hit areas. The government said authorities had issued emergency alerts through the cell-broadcast system to residents in affected locations. Bangkok experienced heavy downpours throughout much of Friday, with intense rain continuing into Saturday. Images and videos showed major roads under water, while some vehicles were left stranded after drivers were unable to navigate the rising floodwaters. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said heavy rain was likely to continue through Saturday but expressed hope that floodwaters would gradually recede once the rain stopped. He said city authorities were working to drain the accumulated water as quickly as possible. Authorities established several shelters for residents who had to evacuate their homes. Some government facilities were also opened to provide parking areas for vehicles, officials said.  

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast moderately heavy rainfall in Barishal, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours commencing 9:00am on Saturday. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka and Khulna divisions and at one or two places over Barishal, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country,” said a Met office bulletin. Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country. Besides, the land depression now lies over north Chhattisgarh & adjoining Northeast Madhya Pradesh. It is likely to move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually. The axis of monsoon troughs runs through Madhya Pradesh, center of the land depression, Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across southern part of Bangladesh. Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate over North Bay.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds and lightning, in many parts of the country in the 24 hours commencing at 9:00am on Friday. According to the forecast, moderately heavy to heavy rainfall is likely at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions during the period. In addition, light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds and lightning flashes are likely at many places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions. Day temperatures may rise slightly, while night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country. The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours until 6:00am on Friday was recorded at 72mm in Sylhet. The BMD said the monsoon trough axis extends from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal and the centre of the low over Assam across the southern part of Bangladesh. It added that the monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay.

Water levels in major rivers in Sylhet continue to rise following several days of heavy rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream. Although none of the rivers have yet crossed the danger level, Water Development Board (WDB) officials warned that the situation may worsen if the rain and flow of upstream water persist. According to the Sylhet Meteorological Office, the region recorded 193.8 millimetres of rainfall between 6am Tuesday and 6am Wednesday. Besides, 28 millimetres of rainfall was recorded between 6am and 12 pm on  Wednesday. Dipak Ranjan Das, executive engineer of WDB in Sylhet, said that water levels in Sylhet’s rivers have been rising continuously for the past few days. “The primary reason is the hill runoff from India. If rainfall decreases there the situation will start to normalise. Persistent heavy rainfall in Sylhet is also contributing to the rise in water levels in the rivers,” he said. Low-lying areas in several upazilas—Gowainghat, Companiganj, Kanaighat, and Jaintiapur—have already been inundated due to the swelling rivers.  Rains, thundershowers likely across country Popular tourist spot Zero Point in Gowainghat’s Jaflong area is now submerged. Water level at the tourist site Sadapathar in Companiganj have also risen significantly. Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ratan Kumar Adhikari said that no villages in his upazila have yet been inundated. “However, the rivers are rising and water has started to enter the haor areas. The local administration is fully prepared in case of early flooding,” he added.  Prolonged rainfall causes severe waterlogging in Kurigram Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad said, “No flood situation has developed in Sylhet as of now. None of the rivers have crossed the danger mark. However, the local administration has prepared up to the union level. If the situation deteriorates, volunteers, government officials, and other relevant personnel are ready to respond.”  

Heavy and torrential rains since Friday morning have inundated the main roads and lanes in Chandpur town, causing suffering to commuters and disrupting normal life. Locals the waterlogging was created due to faulty drainage, making it almost impossible to move. Roads are devoid of vehicles, and people are largely staying indoors unless absolutely necessary. Incessant rains throw life out of gear in Dhaka Vikas Ghosh, a vendor selling fermented milk drink near Court Station are, expressed his frustration, saying, "I have been here since 6 am with my drinks, but by 9 am, I haven't sold anything. There are no people around."

Rain, a wonderful blessing of mother nature, helps plants grow, fills up the rivers, and keeps the world green and liveable. However, transforming into a powerful storm, heavy rain can bring lightning, thundershowers, and strong winds, which can cause damages to lives and properties. So, understanding how to be safe during and after heavy rains is essential. This article provides a significant to-do list, carrying some practical steps. Let's dive into exploring ways to reduce the risks during heavy rainfall. Safety Tips during Heavy Rains and Thundershowers Things to do while Driving Turn on Headlights Rain can make it hard for other drivers to see the car. Turning on headlights increases visibility, reducing the risk of accidents. Don't Attempt to Drive across a Flooded Area During heavy rains, many roads face water logging. The depth of water can be hard to guess. The gathered water may also hide potholes and electrical wires. Therefore, driving through flooded areas can be risky. Read more: Ways to Purify Water during Flood, Disaster, Emergency Situations Reduce Speed Slowly Wet roads can make tires lose contact with the road surface, a phenomenon known as hydroplaning. To avoid this, vehicles should maintain slower speeds during heavy rain. Choose Safe Parking Spots While parking a vehicle, avoid places under power lines, trees, or next to utility poles. These areas can pose risks during heavy rains, like falling branches and debris. Avoid Driving in Heavy Rain Poor visibility during heavy rainfall makes driving risky. If possible, drivers should park the vehicle and wait until the rain has slowed down or stopped before continuing the journey. Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention

Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides that have killed 36 people in Brazil’s north Sao Paulo state, officials said Sunday, and the fatalities could rise. Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that 35 died in the city of Sao Sebastiao and a 7-year-old girl was killed in neighboring Ubatuba. The cities of Sao Sebastiao, Ubatuba, Ilhabela and Bertioga, some of the hardest hit and now under state of calamity, canceled their Carnival festivities as rescue teams struggle to find missing, injured and feared dead in the rubble. “Our rescue teams are not managing to get to several locations; it is a chaotic situation,” said Felipe Augusto, the mayor of Sao Sebastiao. Later, he added there are dozens of people missing and that 50 houses collapsed in the city due to the landslides. Augusto posted on social media several videos of widespread destruction in his city, including one of baby being rescued by locals lined up on a flooded street. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Twitter he will visit the region Monday. Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that precipitation in the region has surpassed 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) in one day, one of the highest amounts ever in Brazil in such a short period. Also Read: Bolsonaro says he may return to Brazil in the coming weeks Bertioga alone had 687 millimeters during that period, the state government said. Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement he requested support from the army, which sent two airplanes and rescue teams to the region. TV footage showed houses flooded with only the roof visible. Residents are using small boats to carry items and people to higher positions. A road that connects Rio de Janeiro to the port city of Santos was blocked by landslides and floodwaters. The northern coast of Sao Paulo state is a frequent Carnival destination for wealthy tourists who prefer to stay away from massive street parties in big cities.

Authorities have prepared more than 1,000 cycone shelters to evacuate people while all fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been asked to remain anchored until further notice as Cyclone Sitrang is expected to cross southern Bangladeshi coast by early Tuesday. The Bay of Bengal will remain very rough near the eye of the cyclone, the weather office said on Monday morning. According to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Sitrang may make landfall near Khepupara along Barishal-Chittagong coast, and because of the impact of the cyclone heavy rains would continue to lash the country. Read: ‘Sitrang’ may hit a 730 km area in Bangladesh on Oct 25: State Minister Authorities in Chattogram and other hilly districts warned that landslides could destroy homes and kill people if incessant rains continue. UNB correspondents from across southern coastal region reported heavy rains since morning.

Heavy summer rains pouring since Friday morning inundated parts of Kurigram district damaging ready-to-harvest paddy crops in fields the district. The local Met office recorded 126 mm of rain in five hours this morning. As a result, Boro crops on hundreds of bighas of land got inundated. According to the Kurigram Agriculture Extension Department, Boro has been planted in 1 lakh 16 thousand hectares of land in the district this year. Read: Rivers in Sylhet and Sunamganj in spate after heavy rains Shahidul Islam, a farmer from Kanchichar area of Sadar's Panchgachhi union, said, he cultivated boro paddy on 2 bighas of land." The yield was also very good and the paddy is ripe. But half of his paddy land has been submerged in rainwater, he added. Sabur Hossain, officer-in-charge of Rajarhat Meteorological Observatory in Kurigram, said 126 mm of rainfall was recorded in Kurigram on Friday morning. The Met office forecast heavy rain with gusty winds in different parts of Rangpur division in the next 24 hours.   End/UNB/Corr/SIS/F 2317

Parts of Australia’s third-most populous city Brisbane were under water Monday after heavy rain brought record flooding to some east coast areas and killed seven people. The flooding in Brisbane and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city of 2.6 million people was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event. READ: Australia to open borders to vaccinated travelers on Feb. 21 A 59-year-old man drowned in Brisbane’s north on Sunday afternoon after he tried to cross a flooded creek on foot and was pinned against a fence, Queensland state police said on Monday. Queensland emergency services warned life-threatening flash flooding was occurring south of Brisbane in parts of Gold Coast city. Residents were advised to shelter where they were unless it is unsafe to do so. Access to many areas was cut in multiple places, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said in an alert. Emergency crews made more than 100 swift-water rescues after receiving 8,000 calls for help in Brisbane and its surrounds since midafternoon Sunday, officials said. All seven flood deaths have been in Queensland state, of which Brisbane is the capital. A search continues for a solo sailor, aged in his 70s, who fell overboard from his vessel in the Brisbane River near the city center on Saturday. Multiple emergency flood alerts were in place for Brisbane suburbs, where 2,145 homes and 2,356 businesses were submerged or would become so Monday as the waters rose. Another 10,827 properties will be partially flooded above the floorboards. The waters were forecast to peak less than 50 centimeters (20 inches) below the 4.46 meter (14 foot, 3 inch) flood level reached in 2011, officials said. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the floods are “very different” to 2011 because the rain pummeled the region for five days. In 2011, the rain had stopped days before the Brisbane River peaked and authorities had warned for several days of flooding downstream. Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said major roads had been cut. Train and ferry services across Brisbane have been halted, he said. Read: UN experts: North Korea stealing millions in cyber attacks “We’re going to have localized flooding in a lot of areas for a couple of days yet,” Bailey said. South of the Queensland border, the New South Wales town of Lismore was bracing for its worst flooding on record. Downtown Lismore was inundated on Monday after days of unrelenting rain and 15,000 people had been evacuated, officials said.