Flood victims suffer for lack of food, safe water

Dhaka: The flood situation in Kurigram, Sirajganj and Gaibandha districts remained unchanged while rivers in the country's mid-region were flowing above their danger marks on Saturday, worsening the woes of flood victims.

According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, the Brahamaputra, Padma and Arial Kha, Kumar and Madhumati rivers were still in spate.

In Kurigram, the flood situation remained unchanged as the Brahamaputra was flowing above its danger mark though floodwater receded slightly in some areas.

About 700 square kilometres areas of the district were inundated by the floodwater, leaving 2.5 lakh people of 550 villages under 42 unions marooned for the last 10 days.

Academic activities at 193 educational institutions still remained suspended due to the flood.

Sources at Water Development Board said the Brahmaputra River was flowing 25 cm above the danger mark at Chilmari point while the Dharala and Dudhkumar 22cm below and 8 cm from their danger marks respectively.

Officials said some 38,312 houses, 17 bridges, 1.5 kilometres of embankment, 140 kilometres of road and 43 educational institutions have been damaged by floodwater. A total of 3,620 hectares of cropland were inundated in the district. Three people drowned here in floodwater.

The local administration has distributed 400 tonnes of rice, Tk 11.50 lakh in cash and 4,000 packets of dry foods among the flood victims.

In Sirajganj, 10 more villages went under water as 40 metres of an under-construction flood control embankment at Bahuka in sadar upazila collapsed into the Jamuna River on Thursday night.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mufazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya is scheduled to visit the collapsed embankment and flood-affected areas on Saturday, Sirajganj deputy commissioner Kamrunnahar Siddiqa told UNB.

In Lalmonirhat, the flood situation in the district improved as water-flow of Teesta and Dharla rivers started falling.

More than one lakh people in five upazilas of the district, who were affected by flood, are facing scarcity of pure drinking water, food and sanitation. They are seeking government assistance for their rehabilitation.

Contacted, Lalmonirhat DC Abul Fayez Alauddin Khan said all the flood victims will be brought under post-flood rehabilitation programmes.

In Gaibandha, the flood situation in four upazilas improved with the fall in water levels in the Brahmaputra and Ghaghot rivers. But, the flood-affected people have been suffering for lack of dry food, pure water and sanitation facility.

Briefing reporters, Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha Goutam Chandra Pal said some 194 villages of 30 unions in Fulchhari, Saghata, Sundarganj and Sadar upazillas were flooded, while 2,41,213 people affected by flood and over 12000 families by river erosion.

Nearly 81 kilometers of roads, jute, Aush paddy, Aman seedlings and vegetable on 254 hectares of land were damaged by the floodwater.
Besides, three people drowned in the floodwater in the last several days.

In Faridpur, the Padma River was flowing 20 cm above its danger level at Goalanda poin.

Arial Kha, Kumar and Madhumati rivers were also flowing above their danger levels on Saturday, said sources at the local Water Development Board office.

WDB Deputy Assistant Engineer Jahirul Islam said the water level in the Padma River was rising rapidly.