Photo: Messenger
Flood situation in Noakhali has worsened due to ongoing rain and gusty winds, causing a further rise in the water levels of rivers, leaving over 20 lakh people stranded.
According to the Noakhali weather office, 98 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in the region on Saturday.
Rafiqul Islam, the district officer of Maijdee, told The Daily Messenger that low-lying areas in Hatiya and Subarnachar are already submerged. In Sadar Upazila, a large portion of crops in the char areas have been inundated, raising concerns about a potential food crisis. As a result, vegetable prices have doubled due to high demand.
Morsheful Hasan Chandan, the Agriculture Officer of Sadar Upazila, told The Daily Messenger that all aman seedbeds and vegetable fields have been submerged since last week.
The water levels in various link roads and villages have risen over the past 24 hours.
Monir Hossain, a resident of Maijdee, mentioned, “Water has reduced by 3 to 4 inches since we returned home from the shelter center.”
When contacted, the Executive Engineer of the Noakhali Water Development Board, Munshi Amir Fasal, told The Daily Messenger that the water level rose suddenly, despite some improvement observed yesterday.
The Deputy Commissioner of Noakhali, Dewan Mahbubur Rahman, said, “20 lakh people have been marooned, with 826 shelter centers being operational. The administration has allocated food and cash money for those affected by the floods.”
Messenger/Mamun/Shahed
