- 9 deaths reported in 3 days
- 10 districts affected by floodwater
- At least 1,510 mobile towers affected
- Rail, road links snapped in many places
The flood situation in the eastern region worsened on Thursday as the rivers were flowing above the danger level, affecting the lives of at least 600,000 families.The authorities reported nine deaths from flood-related accidents in three days till last night—six in Comilla and one each in Feni, Brahmanbaria and Cox’s Bazar.
Feni has been damaged the most among the flooded districts. Adjacent Comilla and Noakhali are also facing severe floods. Altogether, 10 districts are flooded.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,246 flood shelters have been opened, and 82,694 people have taken refuge in them. Some 492 medical teams are working on providing treatment and care for the stranded people.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) reported that the water level at most points rose till 9am on on Thursday. However, water levels are steady or decreasing from 3pm at most points.
However, the water level was still rising in the Gomti River on Thursday evening.
Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer of the FFWC, said: “We are expecting to see a decrease in the water level at all points in the next 48 hours, and water might be drained in the next 72 hours.”
The reason behind the expectation is the stopping of heavy rain in upstream areas of the rivers. Rain has also stopped in Comilla, Noakhali, Feni, and Khagrachari in the afternoon.
Rail communication on Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet and Chittagong-Sylhet routes was suspended as sections of rail tracks went under floodwater.
A portion of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway is also closed for flooding in Chauddagram, Comilla.
Feni
The Bangladesh Army and Navy sent 231 personnel in 48 rescue vehicles to Feni. Around 20,000 people took refuge in 78 flood shelters. The estimated number of affected people is around 300,000 in Feni, with one reported dead on Wednesday.
Floodwaters have severely damaged power lines, leading to a complete blackout in Parshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas since Tuesday. The lack of electricity and disrupted mobile network coverage have deepened the crisis, leaving residents stranded and without communication.
The water level severely damaged the houses, roads, crops, and livestock in the district.
Tanvir Khan, a Feni resident who lives near the Muhri Project, said his house and the chicken firm are completely flooded. Several others reported that the water submerged the first floor of the house and the second floor.
Noakhali
The flood has affected eight out of nine upazilas in the district, leaving almost 200,000 people stranded. More than 36,000 people took refuge in flood shelters of the district. However, many people are struggling to reach the shelters due to the surrounding floodwaters.
Local residents have reported that water levels have risen to neck height in most parts of the district, with Maizdi being slightly less affected, where water levels have reached waist height.
Comilla
The authorities on Thursday confirmed the deaths of six people in the district. The deaths occurred in various areas, including the Salahuddin intersection in Comilla city, Laksham, Chauddagram, and Nangalkot upazilas.
Among them, one died on Thursday, four on Wednesday, and one on Tuesday.
The deceased are Karamat Ali, 45, from Daudpur in Nangalkot municipality, Rafi, 15, from the Chhoto area of Comilla city, and Shahadat Hossain, 34, son of Kanu Mia from Sonakatia village in Chauddagram upazila, Khalid Mahmud, an Alim examinee of Laksham upazila and lawyer Sohrab Hossain.
Besides, the identity of a child who drowned in Laksham is not yet known.
The flood situation in Comilla worsened as the water level in the Gomti River continued to rise due to heavy rainfall and inflow from upstream.
Some 88 medical teams are working along with local volunteers. The Bangladesh Army is also participating in rescuing stranded people in the district.
As of on Thursday afternoon, the Comilla Water Development Board reported that the Gomti River was flowing 103cm above the danger level, up from 70cm at 7am.
Villages near the river's embankments have been submerged since Wednesday due to the rising waters.
The river's embankments are under severe pressure, causing flooding in more than 50 areas, including Chanpur, Tikkarchar, Dumuria, Kamarkhara, Banashua, Babur Bazar, Palpara, and Bhatpara in Adarsha Sadar Upazila.
Brahmanbaria
The government said on Thursday that one person died due to the floods in the district.
Some 1,140 families are stranded by floodwaters. There are 11 flood shelters operating in the district. Six medical teams are working on the field too.
Masum Haque, a businessman, reported losing around Tk14 lakh as his fish farm was destroyed by the floodwater.
Moulvibazar
Seven upazilas in Moulvibazar have been flooded. Locals say they have not seen water levels rise as fast as this before.
Suleman Ahmed, a resident of Baralekha said: “Houses are going underwater fast. As we experience floods almost every year, we tend to build our houses high. Nevertheless, water is reaching the houses in some areas.”
Floodwaters breached the Manu River embankment at Kadamhata in Rajnagar Upazila, leading to the closure of the Moulvibazar-Rajnagar-Fenchuganj and Moulvibazar-Kulaura-Barlekha roads on Thursday morning.
Habiganj
Around 8,000 people are stranded in the five upazilas of Habiganj. The embankment of the Khowai River is damaged at several points.
Tafazzal Sohel, waterkeeper for the Khowai River, said that the simultaneous opening of all gates by India has led to rising water levels in the Khowai, Kushiyara, and Kalni rivers. If the water levels in the Khowai River continue to rise, the city could suffer significant damage, and the embankments might fail.
The embankments are at risk due to years of unplanned sand extraction from the river and the creation of access roads for sand extraction, he added.
Sylhet
Helal Uddin, a resident of Fenchuganj said: “The water has reached the main roads.” Floodwater has reached the houses in the low-lying areas where the water is at waist level.”
Although 651 flood shelters have been set up, only 18 people took refuge in the shelters till last evening.
Md Abdul Muid, assistant meteorologist at the Sylhet Met Office, said: “Rainfall may continue in Sylhet for another two days. After that, the weather may normalize.” RR
Rangamati
Due to several days of heavy rainfall and flash floods from the hills, Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati has been severely affected by floods.
According to the Upazila administration, 20 villages in 8 unions and 1 municipality have been submerged in floodwaters. Approximately 3,000 families, totalling 10,000 people, are now trapped in floodwaters.
Additionally, there have been landslides on the Rangamati-Chittagong road, the Ghagra-Boraiyachhari-Bandarban road, and the Rangamati-Khagrachhari road.
Landslides have occurred at 21 locations, and the Kengalchhari area of the Rangamati-Khagrachhari Road has been flooded, resulting in road closures.
Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akhter said that 55 shelters have been opened in the upazila, with 22 shelters already housing 1,500 people from 450 flood-affected families.
The district administration has provided relief supplies, and efforts are being made to distribute dry food to those affected, she said. Most roads in the eight unions and the municipality have been submerged, disrupting internal road communication. Additionally, the Marishya-Dighinala road is temporarily closed due to landslides, Shirin Akhter added.Meanwhile, officials at the Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant reported that the water level of the Kaptai Lake has risen to 103 feet (MSL), up from 101 feet the previous day.
The danger level is at 108 feet, and the current water level remains 5 feet below that threshold.
No water releases from the Kaptai Dam are planned for the next two days, though limited releases may occur if rainfall continues and the water level approaches 108 feet, officials iasd.
Khagrachhari
Continuous rainfall across the district caused massive floods in eight upazilas, making this the worst flood since 1988 and bringing unprecedented water levels to the region’s hilly areas.
Even in the municipality, floodwater has reached around 7 feet in height. Some 33,522 families are now stranded in the district, officials said.
Avit Tripura, a resident of Khagrachhari, said: “We need dry rations now. Some people did not have food in the last two days. The locals have distributed relief among them, but it is not enough.”
Chittagong
In Chittagong, nine upazilas are submerged, and around 250,000 individuals from 46,000 families are facing severe distress.
Persistent rainfall and upstream runoff from India have exacerbated the flooding, causing most of Chittagong's rivers to overflow. However, the rain has somewhat decreased since on Thursday afternoon.
Cox’s Bazar
A young Rakhine man drowned in floodwater in Ramu Upazila of Cox's Bazar on Thursday. The deceased could not be identified immediately.
Besides, two young men were swept away by the floodwaters coming down from upstream. Ramu police station's officer-in-charge (OC), Abu Taher Dewan, confirmed the information.
The missing individuals are Amjad Hossain, 22, from Sayeed Hossain's family in the East Jumchhari village of Gorgonia Union, and Robiul Alam, 35, from Saleh Ahmed's family in the Dochhari Union of Naikhongchhari in Bandarban district.
Abdul Jabbar, a member of Ward No. 3 of Gorgonia Union Parishad, said that Amjad Hossain was swept away by the current while crossing the road near East Jumchhari graveyard.
Lakshmipur
More than 100,000 families are stranded by floodwater in the district. Around 5,000 people sought refuge in 185 flood shelters across five upazilas of the district.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated Tk10 lakh and 500 tons of rice for the district.
