Photo : Messenger
Due to India's opening of dams and continuous heavy rains, several districts in the country have been affected by sudden floods, leaving people in those areas disoriented. Eight deaths in four districts have been reported so far. More than 3 million people are trapped in water. As a result, the wailing of people in the flood-affected areas is constantly increasing.
KM Ali Reza, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, said at a press conference on the ongoing floods at the Secretariat on Thursday that the districts of Feni, Comilla, Chattogram, Khagrachari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Brahmanbaria have been affected by floods. A total of 440,840 families in these eight districts are waterlogged.
The additional secretary also mentioned that 1,534 shelters have been opened for water-bound and affected people, with a total of 75,668 people and 7,459 cattle currently sheltered.
He noted that water levels in the main rivers of the northeastern and eastern parts of the country are rising. According to meteorological agencies, the trend of heavy rains may decrease in the northern, eastern, and adjacent upland areas in the next 24 hours. At this time, the flood situation in the lower areas adjacent to the Manu, Khoai, and Dhalai rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts in the northeastern region may improve from an initially stable condition.
Citing information from meteorological agencies, Ali Reza also indicated that the trend of heavy rains may decrease in the southeastern, eastern, and adjacent parts of the country in the next 24 hours. Consequently, the flood situation in the lower areas along the Muhuri, Feni, Gomti, and Halda rivers in Feni, Comilla, and Chittagong districts may improve from an initially stable condition.
He added that 50 upazilas and 357 affected unions have been inundated. A total of 440,840 families in eight districts are waterlogged, with the number of affected people reaching 2,904,964. Two deaths have been reported (one in Feni and one in Brahmanbaria). A total of 444 medical teams are operational to provide care to the victims in the eight districts.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have decided to halt train movement from Chittagong, as a large area of the Dhaka-Chittagong railway line has been flooded. The decision was announced after noon on Thursday.
According to railway sources, the Dhaka-bound Subarna Express and the Sylhet-bound Paharika Express left Chittagong station on Thursday morning but could not reach their destinations due to the floods and had to return.
Mohammad Nazmul Islam, General Manager of the Eastern Region of the railway, said, “Due to the severe flood situation, water is flowing over the railway line and bridge in Feni. The same situation has occurred with a railway bridge in Sylhet. The Chittagong-Cox's Bazar railway line has also collapsed. It is very dangerous to operate trains under these conditions. Therefore, we have decided to stop train movement to ensure the safety of passengers and railway assets.”
On the other hand, the water level of the Khoai River in Habiganj is rising due to continuous rains and hill flows from India. Currently, the water is flowing 192 cm above the danger level. As a result, the city’s protective dam is at risk. If the water level rises further, it may overflow the dam in various places and enter the local areas. Water is entering the Haor at high speed due to a breach in the Khoai River dam. If the situation persists, the water could quickly flood nearby houses.
Shamim Hasnain Mahmud, Executive Engineer of the Habiganj Water Development Board, said that continuous rains in the Indian state of Tripura, the source of the Khoai River, are causing the river’s water level to rise. As of 3 pm on Thursday, the water was flowing 192 cm above the tidal limit at Machulia Point in the district town and 278 cm at Balla Point on the Bangladesh-India border. Efforts are underway to protect the embankment with sandbags in vulnerable areas.
In Rangamati, incessant rains have caused landslides at 20 locations in the district, though there have been no reported fatalities. On Thursday morning, road communication was disrupted for about two hours due to a landslide in the Kalabagan area of Ghagra on the Rangamati-Chittagong road. The road department and fire service personnel later removed the debris and restored traffic.
Approximately 250 tourists are trapped in Sajek due to the sinking of the Khagrachari-Baghaichhari road. Flooding resulting from landslides has caused the road to sink, preventing the tourists from returning.
Meanwhile, district administrators in flood-affected areas have been instructed to coordinate with anti-discrimination student movement groups, the army, medical teams, and other volunteers. A round-the-clock control room has been established by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. For information and assistance, call 02-55101115.
Mohammad Nazmul Abedin, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, stated that a total of 18.2 million taka has been allocated to the eight flood-affected districts. Additionally, 13,650 tonnes of relief rice and 11,000 packets of dry and other food items have been distributed.
Messenger/Fameema
