Deadly flood kills 18, affects over 5mn people

Eighteen people died and over five million people have been affected so far as the ongoing severe flood hit 77 upazilas under 11 districts of the country.

Among the deaths, four were in Cumilla, one in Feni, five in Chattogram, three in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three were in Cox's Bazar districts, according to latest updates on the ongoing flood situation issued by the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

In response to the ongoing flood, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus on Saturday urged the country's people to come forward to addressing the ongoing devastating flood, reports BSS.

"With the initiatives and encouragement of the youth, the country's people should jump into addressing the flood together. We must tackle the flood unitedly," he said after a meeting with the representatives of non-government organisations (NGOs) at state guest house Jamuna here.

According to Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar districts have been affected in the ongoing flood since August 20.

A total of 9,79,901 families have been stranded in the flood while 3,01,993 people were given shelter to 3,513 shelter centers.

The flood hit 587 unions and municipalities under 77 upazilas of 11 districts.

Taka 3,52,00,000 (cash), 20,150 metric tons of rice and 15,000 packets of dry foods, Taka 35,00,000 for baby food and Taka 35,00,000 for animal feed have been allocated for the 11 flood-hit districts.

A total of 769 medical teams are working to provide treatment to the affected people in the flood-hit districts.

Army, navy, coast guard, Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB), fire service and civil defence and students' community in coordination with district administration are making rescue efforts in the flood-hit areas.

In Feni, the flood water is slowing receding in Parshuram, Fulgazi Chhagalnaiya and Feni sadar upazilas but flood water is rising in Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi upazilas, according to district administration.

As many as 50,000 people from flood-hit areas took refuge at shelter centers and safe places. It has been possible to reach dry food and drinking water to around 40,000 people.

Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has allotted Taka 62,00,000 (cash), 2900 metric tons of rice, 6000 packets of dry food, Taka 5,00,000 for baby food and Taka 5,00,000 for the flood-affected people.

A field hospital has been prepared in the district for providing treatment. Physicians from the army and district civil surgeon office are providing treatment.

The Adviser for Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and Secretary of the ministry visited the flood-hit areas and the adviser is now staying in Feni.

In Habiganj, fish of 1.5 thousand fish farms worth around Taka 10 crore were washed away after a devastating flood triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush of water from upstream inundated large area of land in the region.

Md Wahidur Rahman, deputy director of Habiganj district fisheries office, said around 5 lakh 37 thousand tonnes of Carp-like fish and three crore small fishes of various types have been washed away by floodwaters.

According to latest bulleting of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), water levels at 24 river stations have marked rise, while 86 stations recorded fall.

The Kushiyara river at Amalshid, at Sheola, Sherpur-Sylhet, at Markuli, the Manu at Moulvibazar, the Khowai at Ballah (Habiganj), the Gumti at Cumilla, the Feni at Ramgarh (Chattogram), the Muhuri (Parshuram) are flowing 14cm, 1cm, 9cm, 4 cm, 91cm, 44cm, 96cm, 53cm and no communication, above the danger level respectively.

The water level of major rivers in North-Eastern, Eastern and South-Eastern regions of the country continues to decrease, the FFWC bulletin added.

It said in the last 24 hours, no significant rainfall was observed in the eastern Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Feni districts and water levels in upstream rivers continued to recede.

As a result, the existing flood situation in the low-lying areas of Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Cumilla and Chattogram districts has started improving since yesterday and continues.

According to the information of meteorological agencies, in the next 24 hours, the possibility of heavy rainfall in the north-eastern of the country and adjacent upstream region is unlikely.

At this time, the water level of the Manu, Khowai, Dhalai rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts of the northeastern region may decrease and the flood situation in the adjacent low-lying areas may continue to improve.

There is no possibility of heavy rainfall in the southeast, eastern and adjacent uplands of the country in the next 24 hours.

At this time, the water level of Feni, Cumilla and Chattogram districts of Muhuri, Feni, Gomti, Halda rivers in this region may decrease and the flood situation in the adjacent low areas may continue to improve.

The water level of Surma-Kushiara river in the north-eastern part of the country is receding, which may continue in the next 24 hours.

The water level of Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern part of the country is steady overall, normal flow of these rivers may prevail in the next 48 hours.

ISPR issued a press release today mentioning different units and contingents of Bangladesh Armed Forces have been working tirelessly to rescue flood victims in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari as the flood situation worsened in the country's north-eastern and south-eastern regions.

In the last 24 hours, Bangladesh Armed Forces' personnel rescued approximately 9,500 flood-affected people and sent them to various shelter centres through around 55 boats and helicopters in the flood-hit districts.

Besides, relief and food items have been distributed by the armed forces to around 5,000 flood victims.

In addition, a large number of medical teams of the armed forces have been deployed to provide medical assistance to the flood-hit districts.

However, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has opened a control room for providing information and support for the flood-hit areas of the country. The control room's number is 0255101115.

Deputy Commissioners of flood affected districts have been given necessary directives to work together in coordination with coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Army, Navy, medical teams and other volunteers.

The people, who are interested to stand by the flood victims, have been urged to send money to 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund'.

Interested people have been requested to deposit or send money to the account named 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund'. Account No: 0107333004093, Bank Name: Sonali Bank Corporate Branch, Chief Adviser's Office.

A disaster management support coordination cell has been formed in the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs to help deal with the flood situation in Bangladesh.

The coordination cell will update the relevant authorities with the information to be received along with maintaining constant communication with all involved in disaster management and follow up at all times.

The cell's contact numbers are: 02-47118700, 02-47118701, 02-47118702, 02-47118703, 02-47118704, 02-47118705, 01317749980 and 01820117744.