Photo: Collected
The country is experiencing a freakish spell of rainfall in most places which is causing flash floods. We are deeply concerned by the reports of flash floods inundating as many as 25 villages in Chakaria Upazila throwing over 1 lakh people into uncertainty due to water-logging. The area experienced a rainfall of 270 millimeter in just 24 hours.
Weather experts tell us that incessant heavy rainfall in India's Meghalaya and Assam has also caused flash floods in the North-East region of Bangladesh. Worrying reports are coming from various districts of the affected region where people are now wading in knee-deep water in search of shelter.
Media reports show upazilas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts have experienced 242mm and 223mm of rainfall, which is over the monthly average seasonal rainfall. Places including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrokona have been severely hit thereby affecting the lives of over 2.5 million people. Roads in various upazilas are now under water, especially Sylhet City and Sunamganj town face water-logging.
Bad news also came from Bhola where croplands have gone under water because of incessant rain. This has already damaged Aush paddy and vegetable fields, which were the main earning sources of the local farmers.
Farmers fear that if rain continues to fall for another 3 to 4 days, there will be no hope of salvaging the crops. On top of it, fishermen could not go to the sea to catch Hilsa fish because of the rain. This is the season when they go to the sea in large groups to catch Hilsa fish, a delicacy of the people. The financial loss because of continued rain will be something to worry about.
Heavy rainfall has also affected greater Chittagong in many ways. Already the Chittagong-Mirsarai highway has gone under way at many places thus disrupting communication on the busy road. We are also told that heavy downpour in Rangamati has increased the fear of landslides in the hills. And the low-lying areas in Chittagong have been under water for the last two days. Heavy Rain is making loading and unloading of cargo at Mongla Port difficult for the workers.
As we have the experience of facing such calamity almost every year, the government machinery must be ready to go and stand by the people stranded in flood water.
Messenger/Disha
