Heavy rain upstream may worsen flood
Flood worsened in central Bangladesh with fresh areas going under water between Saturday and Sunday as heavy rain began upstream amid India issuing red alert for north-eastern states.
The onrush of water from the upstream is likely to increase through most parts of the week as rain will gradually pick up in the upstream such as West Bengal and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya over the next three days until Wednesday.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre bulletin said that it rained up to 288mm in Meghalaya while 138mm in Arunachal Pradesh in the 24 hours until 9:00am on Sunday.
The health emergency control room said that five people died due to flood-related causes during the 24 hours until 8:00am on Sunday, taking the total death tally to 67.
So far 4,024 people have taken ill because of flood-related diseases in 18 districts in Bangladesh.
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that the Padma continued to swell at Bhagyakul and Mawa inundating fresh areas where at least 20,000 people got stranded.
A total of 13 unions in Tongibari, Louhajang and Sreenagar of the district were flooded.
Drinking water crisis turned worse at the district as vast areas lay under water with all deep tube-wells contaminated with riverwaters.
The ferry service between the Shimulia and Kathalbari terminals resumed after more than a day on Sunday morning.
Over 300 vehicles were still stranded on either side of the River Padma to cross via Shimulia-Kathalbari crossing.
New Age correspondent in Kurigram reported that Rajibpur upazila went entirely under floodwater.
Fodder crisis turned severe in the upazila as floodwater not only submerged grazing grounds but washed away most of the straw hips preserved by people for rearing cattle.
‘We are now forced to walk miles to get something for our cattle to eat,’ said Babul, 52, a resident of Madaikhal of Kaliganj in Nageshwari.
He said that the amount of fodder he manages to get at the end of the day could barely meet the needs of his cattle.
‘The price of fodder rose sharply and already beyond our capacity to get it for our cattle,’ said Babul.
Jamalpur district relief and rehabilitation officer said that most of the seven upazilas were under water with 2,46,509 families stranded in the floodwater.
He said that 14,976 people were sheltered at 79 shelter centre in the district.
The FFWC said that the flood situation in Munshiganj, Faridupur, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Rajbari and Dhaka may remain unchanged through Monday.
Six rivers receded but were still flowing above their danger marks at 21 points across the country.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued heavy rainfall warning for Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chattogram divisions until Monday morning.
The BMD also asked the four maritime ports to hoist signal number three and asked fishing trawlers and boats to stay close to the coast until further notice.
Flood continued to wreak havoc in Bangladesh for 23 days and is predicted to stay until the end of the month.
Over 2.3 million people have already affected in Bangladesh and the flood situation is likely to deteriorate over the next week.
Thousands of flood victims have taken shelter on embankments with drinking water and relief crisis turning acute and diseases spreading fast.
They also live in high risk of the coronavirus proliferation as they are spending days and nights crammed in polythene tents or into small spaces on education institution premises that are being used as flood shelters.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
