Floods engulf central, southern districts

Severe flooding engulfed new areas inundating the central and southern districts rendering thousands of people marooned.
People in the flooded areas are facing acute crisis of drinking water, food and shelter.
Onrush of waters from across the border in recent weeks caused the devastating floods in Bangladesh claiming at least 16 lives, said officials.
Flood Forecasting and Warning Center said that it expected the flood waters to start receding from the
low lying areas adjacent to Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers at Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Serajganj and Bogra and Dharla River at Kurigram in next 72 hours as the Brahmaputra-Jamuna were falling.
The Padma River might rise in next 48 hours, causing slightly increased flooding situation in low lying areas of Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Shariatpur districts, the FFWC said.
In Shariatpur, the floods engulfed more areas due to rise of water in Padma, reported New Age correspondent.
Over two lakh people have been marooned by floods in 16 unions
under Jajira, Naria, Vedorganj, Gosairhat and sadar upazilas.
Kokhan Sheikh of Purba Nawdoba, Shariatpur said that he was forced to live in a make-shift shelter for the last eight days as his home had been submerged.
Ataur Rahman from the same area said that his and other families were suffering acute drinking water crisis as the tube-well had been submerged.
He said toilets had been submerged too causing another distress.
Rasheda Begum of Kajiarchar, Jajira upazila said that erosion caused by swelling river could render many homeless.
Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner Mahmudul Hoissain Khan said that a list of the affected people was under preparation for distribution of rice, dry foods and cash to the needy.
In Manikganj, new areas were submerged in last 24 hours as the Padma, Jamuna, Dhaleswari, Kaliganga and Ichhamoti continued to rise.
Nearly one lakh people have been marooned in 30 unions of Shivalaya, Daulatpur, Harirampur, Ghior, Saturia and Manikganj Sadar upazilas.
But the district administration estimated the number of the affected at 11, 000 families.
The floods forced closure of at least 226 government primary schools and 26 high schools, said Aleya Ferdausy Shikha district primary education officer in Manikganj.
In Bogra, flooding increased people’s sufferings although the Jamuna began to recede Sariakandi.
Though at least 22,000 ted families are affected relief was provided to 1,200 families.
The flooded areas are facing acute crisis of drinking water and fodder.
In Sirajganj, new areas have been flooded.
At least 347 educational institutions have been affected in the district.
Officials said that over one lakh people in 300 villages were marooned.
Some 450 tonnes of rice and cash to the tune of Tk 13.80 lakh were distributed among the affected
people, said Sirajganj deputy commissioner Billal Hossain.
In Kurigram too more areas have flooded rendering over six lakh people marooned.
Kuigram District Relief and Rehabilitation officials said 728 villages in 57 unions had been flooded rendering over 1.50 lakh families marooned.
They said that at least 6,495 families lost homes due to river erosion.
Train movement between n Jamalpur and Bangabandhu Bridge (east) was suspended since Saturday night as the l tracks went under water at five points, said Jahurul Islam, station master of Jamalpur railway station.
Two women in Islampur upazila drowned while crossing flooded roads on Sunday noon.
The victims included, Monowara Begum,55, wife of Marfat Ali of village Nayapara and Mariom Begum,56, wife of Ujjal Miah of village Chinarchar Akandapara of the upazila, said Didar-a-Alam, UNO of Islampur.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net