Flood condition worsens in northern districts

The overall flood situation in Kurigram, Bogura, Sherpur and Sirajganj districts continued to deteriorate while floodwater started receding in Rangamati and Moulvibazar, reports UNB.

In Kurigram, the Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers kept flowing more than 1 metre above the danger level on Wednesday, inundating new areas.

One-and-half-year-old child Fuad, son of Sumon Mia of Kazirchawk area of Ulipur upazila, drowned in floodwater in the afternoon.

With this, at least 11 deaths have so far been reported from the district in the last three days with the rising water leaving nearly 400,000 people marooned.

The Brahmaputra was flowing 131 cm above the danger level at Chilmari point while the Dharla 116 cm above the red mark at the Bridge point, intensifying the woes of the victims.

The flood-affected people faced an acute shortage of drinking water, food and fodder. Many were also suffering from water-borne diseases.

Hafizur Rahman, acting deputy commissioner of Kurigram district, said the administration has made a fresh allocation of 3 metric tons of rice and Tk 200,000 for the flood victims.

In Gaibandha, rail communication of the district with other parts of the country remained suspended since Wednesday noon due to the flood triggered by persistent rain over the past few days.

The flood situation has deteriorated in four upazilas of the district and the water of the Brahmaputra was flowing 189 cm above the danger level at noon. Different private and government offices, including DC's Bungalow, judge home and Police Line areas, went under water.

Railway sources said rail tracks in Badhiakhali went under water snapping rail communications with other parts of the country around 12:00pm.

Besides, the vehicular movement stopped on different internal roads as they were submerged by floodwater.

An estimated 254,000 families remained marooned by floodwater in the district while 114 shelter centres were opened for the victims, according to information at the district administration.

A total of 115 schools in the district town and other upazilas have been declared closed due to the flood.

In Bogura, the Jamuna River was flowing 117 cm above the danger level.

District relief officer Azahar Ali said so far at least 15 unions of three upazilas have been flooded, inundating 82,380 people of 135 villages.

A total of 8,978 hectares of paddy field went under floodwater while 75 educational institutions were shut due to the flood.

The district administration distributed 600 metric tons of rice and Tk 800,000 among the flood-hit people.

In Sherpur, locals recovered the body of an elderly woman - Asia Begum, 104, wife of Fayez Mia, who remained missing since Sunday night, from Sarikalinagar of Jhenaigati upazila on Tuesday, said duty officer of Jhenaigati police station.

So far, three people, including a child, have drowned in floodwater in the past few days.

Flood control embankment along the Bhogai river in Nalitabari upazila broke down flooding seven villages anew. The newly flooded villages are Morichpuran, Banskanda, Fakirpara, Kholabhanga, Bhogairpar, Ullarpar and Morichpuran Purbapara.

The flood has stranded 30,000 people in 50 villages of the district.

In Sirajganj, a 75-metre portion of a ring embankment broke down due to the gushing water of the Jamunar river, flooding seven villages and leaving 700 families marooned in Kazipara upazila.

Kazipur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Zahid Hasan said the embankment collapsed around 10:00pm on Tuesday.

In Rangamati, sixteen spillways of the Kaptai dam were opened on Tuesday night to reduce the pressure of water on the lake.

ATM Abijur Zaher, manager of Kaptai hydroelectric power plant, said the spillways and four turbines were releasing 33,000 cusec of (cubic feet per second) water to the Karnaphuli river.

The spillways are releasing 9,000 cusec of water. Currently, 167 megawatts of electricity is being produced, he said.

The current water level in the lake is 14 feet above that of the normal level, he said.

Incessant rain and heavy inflow of water from the upstream pushed up the lake's water level, inundating low-lying areas of four upazilas of the district.

Water from the flood-affected areas has started receding after the spillways were opened.

In Moulvibazar, the water level of the Monu, Kushiara and Dholai reduced to some extent but still they were flowing above the danger mark.

Several hundred villages in Sadar, Rajnagar and Kamalganj upazilas went under water following breach of protection dams of the rivers, affecting about 50,000 families.

Besides, houses, roads and croplands were inundated by the floodwater. On the other hand, floodwater has entered the premises of about 50 educational institutions.

Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the Monu was flowing 45 cm below danger level at Monu railway bridge point while 84 cm above the danger mark at Chadnighat point on Tuesday night.

The Dholai was flowing 44 cm below while Kushiara at Sherpur point of Moulvibazar was flowing 54 centimeter above danger level.

Earlier on Monday, Monu river of Moulvibazar was flowing at 76 cm and 97 cm above danger level at the railway bridge point while the Dholai was flowing 9 cm and the Kushiara 54 cm above danger mark at Sherpur.