Flood situation deteriorates

The flood situation in four districts deteriorated further as major rivers there kept overflowing on Thursday, leaving two children dead and several lakh people marooned.
Although the flood situation worsened in Jamalpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts while it is improving in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts.
In Gaibandha, two children - Sawpna Khatun, of Kamarjani union in Sadar upazila and Pinha, of Kabilpur in Phulchhari
upazila - drowned in floodwater Wednesday night and Thursday respectively.
Besides, river erosion took a furious turn as water level in Bramhaputra and Ghaghat rivers continued to rise over the last few days, witnesses said.
The people of the flood-hit areas have been facing immense sufferings for lack of adequate food, safe drinking water and sanitation.
District administration source said a total of 2,10,000 people of 190 villages in 29 unions were affected by the flood while only 3,000 people took refuge in shelter centres. Besides, at least 123 primary schools remained closed in four upazilas of the district due to the flood.
In Kurigram, the overall flood situation of the district worsened further as the Brahmaputra was flowing 37cm above the danger level at Chilmari point while the Dharala 18cm above the danger mark at the Bridge point.
The water level in Dudhkumar increased by 4cm, while the flow of the Teesta decreased by 14cm. The two rivers were flowing slight below their danger levels.
In the last 24 hours, 15 villages went under water afresh.
Eighty-seven medical teams were formed in the district to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases in the flood-hit areas.
More than two lakh people in seven upazilas, out of nine, remained trapped in floodwater for the past few days while at least 150 schools were announced closed for the flood.
Though the government has initiated the distribution of relief materials in the flood-affected areas but it is not adequate, said locals.
Deputy commissioner Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan said they distributed three metric tonnes rice, cash Tk 8 lakh, 2000 packets of dry food among flood-affected people in seven upazilas.
In Jamalpur, almost one lakh people have been marooned in 35 unions in six upazilas and the Jamuna River was flowing 84 centimetres above the danger level at Bahadurshah point.
District relief and rehabilitation office sources said seven unions of Islampur, eight of Dewanganj, seven in Madarganj, five in Sarishbari, three in Bakshiganj and one union in Melanandah were inundated.
In Lalmonirhat, over one lakh people at 36 villages of 16 unions in Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Sadar upazilas of the Teesta basin remained trapped in floodwaters for the past five days.
The Teesta River was flowing 20cm below the danger level while the Dharola was flowing 25cm above the red mark at Kulaghat point Thursday morning, according to sources at the local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net