13 lakh affected in north, hill dists

Around 13 lakh people in the country’s north, north-eastern and hilly regions have been stranded in flooded areas amid heavy downpour and swollen rivers.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said the situation is likely to deteriorate as the major rivers may continue to swell further in the next 72 hours, inundating new areas.

Water levels in the Surma, Kushiyara, Kangsha, Feni, Halda, Matamuhuri, Sangu and Dharla rivers are also likely to rise more, flooding new areas in Chattogram, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions today.

The FFWC yesterday monitored different rivers from 93 stations and found that water level was dangerously high at 23 places, said Arifuzzaman, executive engineer of the centre.

UNB reports, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at an event at her office said, “We must remain alert, so that the flood can’t harm people.”

In Lalmonirhat, almost one lakh people of 80 villages in five upazilas are stranded with acute shortage of food and safe water.

The Teesta has been flowing 44 cm above the safe level at Teesta barrage and Dharla 41 cm at Shimulbari, said Bajle Karim, sub-divisional engineer of the Water Development Board.

The situation worsened as flood control dams collapsed in some areas.

In Gaibandha, over 40,000 people of four upazilas are stranded as roads have gone under water.

The Jamuna was flowing 37cm, Teesta 9cm and Ghagot 11cm above the safe level in the district yesterday.

Flood protection embankments and dams may collapse anytime, said WDB Executive Engineer Moklesur Rahman.

In Bogura, the Jamuna was flowing 8cm above safe level in Sriakandi yesterday. Around 10,000 people are already waterlogged in the district. At least 14 flooded schools have been closed.

In Kurigram, around one lakh people of nine upazilas are directly affected by swollen rivers.

In Rangpur, some 10,000 people are stranded in floodwater as Teesta flows 48cm above safe level.

The situation is similar in Nilphamari where the Teesta is flowing 52cm above the safe level.

In Sylhet, the Surma is flowing 142cm above the safe mark in Kanaighat and the Kushiyara 128cm in Zakiganj.

In Sunamganj, some 13,000 people are waterlogged, officials said.

In Moulvibazar and Habiganj, over 50,000 people are in a similar state.

In Netrakona, local leaders said about 10,000 people of Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas are marooned.

In Chattogram, over nine lakh people in nine upazilas are directly affected by flash floods, officials estimate.

A total of 284 medical teams are deployed to tackle any emergency, said the district civil surgeon office.

In Khagrachhari, around 3,000 people are affected by flood with many villages without communication.

Bandarban has been unapproachable for the last four days due to flooded roads and landslides.

Our Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Chattogram, Khagrachari and Bandarban corre-spondents contributed to the report.