The flood situation in the country’s north has slightly improved, with water levels in several rivers declining in the past 24 hours, officials said on Saturday.
The water level of Dharala River has decreased by 35 cm, Brahmaputra by 11 cm, and Teesta by 37 cm, said Abu Taher, executive engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board. A bulletin by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said the flood situation in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur was likely to improve in the next 48 hours.
The communique, however, warned that Jamuna was still flowing 10 cm above danger level (DL), at Bhadurabad, as on 6 am Saturday. It also said waters in Padma and Meghna may rise in the next 48 hours.
Some new areas were affected in Kurigram on Saturday, triggering sufferings for thousands of people in different upazilas of the district.
Division official of the district relief and disaster management Anwar Hossain said 250 chars in 36 unions were inundated by Dharla, Brahmaputra and Dudhkumar rivers. He added that roads remained submerged in several areas.
Moreover, the shortage of relief materials, food, medicine and shelter has made the situation worse for over one lakh flood victims in the district’s 36 unions.
“Almost 75,000 people have been marooned, while 1,047 families are rendered homeless,” Abu Taher said.
Officials said they were unable to provide relief, because it was yet to be allocated to them.
According to the FFWC, the water level has increased in 41 river stations. However, 30 stations have showed a drop in the water level and it has been steady in two.
The water level at the Kazipur point in Sirajganj district is on the rise, flooding 25 villages at the site of the Jamuna river, trapping over 5,000 people. At least 20 houses have been destroyed at Shuvogacha and Afania villages.
The Sirajganj Water Development Board said the water level of the Jamuna is increasing, causing erosion in some points of the river. Strong currents have eroded the Shuvogacha and Afania flood protection dam.
Ripon Talukdar, chairman of the Shuvogacha union parishad, said at least 200 people are passing their days under the open sky.
In Dinajpur, the flood situation improved slightly on Saturday, as the water of three major rivers started decreasing in the last 24 hours.
“The water of three rivers, the Punarbhaba, Atrai and the Ichhamati, started decreasing in the last 24 hours,” Md Anwar Hossain, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board of Dinajpur said.
About 40 villages of Biral, Bochaganj, Chirirbandar and Dinajpur Sadar upazilas of the districts are still under floodwaters, while the water started receding from some villages of the district. Most of the flood-affected people are yet to return home. Many people have been staying on high lands, including riverbanks, road and nearby schools since the flash floods started on Tuesday. Sources said the flash floods affected at least 90 villages of seven upazilas of the district.
The affected people alleged that they did not get any government relief.
Shamima Begum who is staying on the Dinajpur flood protection dam at Gobrapara village, told The Independent that she did not get any relief.
Ahmed Sahmim Al-Razi, deputy commissioner of Dinajpur, said relief materials have been sent to the affected areas. a total of 98 tonnes of rice and Tk. 500,000 have been distributed among the flood affected people of the district, he claimed.
Officials at the deputy commissioner’s office said they needed more relief to help those affected.
On the other hand, Iqbalur Rahim, the lawmaker from Dinajpur-3 constituency, distributed relief material among flood-affected people in different villages of Dinajpur Sadar upazila, on Saturday.
Md Anwarul Alam, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension, said that the rising waters affected at least 10,000 hectares of cropland in three upazilas of Dinajpur. “We are receiving more information,” he added.
In Thakurgaon, the flood situation has improved a little, but people’s misery continued, as they did not get adequate relief materials. People in Mushipara, Hatathpara, Purba Goalpara, Shantinagar areas complained that they had not got any relief material.
People have started to return home, with water receding in some areas of the district.Rail services are yet to be started, but restoration work is continuing and railway authorities said train services would start within a week.
In Panchagarh, the flood situation has improved, but the sufferings continue, as supply of relief material is still inadequte. However, people have started returning to their houses, with the retreat of flood waters.
The government has allocated 120 tonnes of rice and Tk. 500,000 for the flood-affected people in Atowary, Boda Sadar and Debiganj upazilas. The Red Crescent Society has also distributed 582 pieces saris, lungis and tents, in Boda upazila. However, flood victims are still suffering from acute shortage of drinking water.
On the other hand, the flood situation remained unchanged in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts, on Saturday.
-With The Independent input
