# Flood-affected people 56 lakh, 12 lakh marooned, 27 dead
# Marks of wounds are everywhere in houses, roads, culverts
# Incessant rains worsen flood in Noakhali, Lakshmipur & Chandpur
Flood waters in 11 districts in the southeastern region of the country have started to recede due to hill streams and heavy rains coming down from India. As the flood waters recede, the picture of the damage is emerging.
Houses, roads, culverts, river embankments, educational institutions are scarred everywhere. Roads and culverts have been broken by the water.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the total number of people affected by the floods in 11 districts so far is 56 lakh. There are 12 lakh 7 thousand 429 water-borne families. There are 74 upazilas flooded and 541 unions and municipalities affected. A total of 27 people have died in the floods so far. Among the deceased, 10 died in Cumilla, one in Feni, five in Chattogram, one in Khagrachhari, five in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three in Cox's Bazar.
Feni district is the worst affected by the flood. Six upazilas of Feni have been flooded due to incessant rains and floods coming down from India. More than 800,000 people in the district have been affected by the floods, according to the district administration. According to district administration sources, at least one and a half lakh people have already been evacuated to safer places in the flood centers. Lakhs of people have taken shelter in high-rise buildings. Special medical teams have been formed in all the upazilas of the district including the city. Doctors of Feni Sadar Hospital are managing these teams. Army, Coast Guard, Fire Service and students are continuing the rescue operation. According to various sources, relief has been distributed in the suburbs along the highway, but people are crying for relief in remote areas. The crisis of clean water has become acute. Roads, government and private establishments in the district have been damaged by the floods.
Cumilla is facing the worst flood in living memory. Of the 17 upazilas in the district, 14 upazilas have been submerged. A total of 2 lakh 8 thousand 949 families have been affected. In this flood, 125 unions, municipalities and municipalities of 14 upazilas of the district have been submerged. According to official figures, 10 people have died in the district so far. However, unofficial estimates say 12. About 81,000 people have taken shelter in 724 shelter centres in the district. Among them, 29,923 are men of different ages, 30,774 women, 20,589 children and 306 people with disabilities.
The flood situation in Noakhali has worsened after three days of incessant rain. In eight flood-hit upazilas of the district, the water level has risen by one and a half to two feet. More than 10 lakh people in eight upazilas of Noakhali have been marooned. Currently, 216,000 people have taken shelter in the shelters. They are being provided with food, medicine and relief assistance. On the other hand, people in the water are afraid of snakes and poisonous insects. Over 100 people have been receiving treatment at hospitals in Noakhali for the last three years. Besides, there has been an outbreak of diarrhea among children and the elderly. There is no shortage of diarrhea patients in hospitals.
The flood situation has improved in Mirsarai, Hathazari and Fatikchhari areas of Chattogram. As the water recedes gradually, the wounds of houses, land and roads are becoming clear. Relief assistance is continuing from various organizations in these areas. Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway remained suspended for three days due to submergence of roads. Tflood situation in 14 unions and municipalities of Hathazari upazila has gradually improved. Several rural roads suffered heavy damage due to floods. 81 roads were completely damaged. Besides, 18 bridges and 136 culverts were damaged.
In Lakshmipur, 525,000 people have been marooned. So far, 30,000 people have taken shelter in shelters. 700 tons of rice and Tk 10 lakh in cash have been allocated for the flood affected people. Of this, 509 tons of rice and Tk 16 lakh have been distributed as relief. Besides, Tk 5 lakh was allocated for baby food and Tk 5 lakh for cattle fodder.
It has been raining intermittently in Chandpur for three consecutive days. Waterlogging and flood waters coming down from Noakhali-Cumilla-Lakshmipur are increasing. While Shahrasti and Hajiganj upazilas of the district have been flooded, Faridganj has been waterlogged due to the embankments of irrigation projects. As a result, millions of people are suffering and panic. The administration has prepared 440 shelter centers in the district. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 people have taken shelter in different shelters in Shahrasti, Hajiganj and Faridganj upazilas.
Khagrachhari has suffered heavy damage due to three consecutive floods. In the hilly district of Khagrachari, the picture of extensive damage after the recent floods has emerged. Rural road infrastructure, agriculture sector and houses have been most affected. Besides, the affected families could not turn around even four days after the flood water receded. Apart from the district headquarters, the number of floods in Dighinala, Ramgarh and Mahalchhari upazilas is high.
Flood waters have started receding in Habiganj district. In the meantime, water has receded from many houses and roads and the water of the rivers is flowing below the danger level. Many people have started returning to their homes as the water receded. However, after the water receded, the signs of damage to various structures, including roads and houses, are becoming clear. According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, 17,685 families of 30 unions in six upazilas of Habiganj have been affected by the floods. About 70,240 people from these families have been affected by the floods.
Due to lack of rainfall in the upstream of India, the water of all the rivers in Moulvibazar is now flowing below the danger level. As a result, the overall flood situation in Moulvibazar district has improved. Meanwhile, the Water Development Board has started repairing the embankments at two places on the Monu and Dhalai rivers. About 3.5 lakh people in the district have been affected by the floods for five consecutive days. Most of the high places in Moulvibazar Sadar, Rajnagar, Kulaura and Kamalganj upazilas have been flooded in the last two days. Flood water has receded from many houses. As a result, many are returning home.
ZH
