Flood death toll rises to 23, Gumti water still above danger level
The floodwaters have left many people isolated and in urgent need of food, clean water, medicine, and dry clothes, particularly in remote areas where blocked roads have hampered rescue and relief efforts
Over 12 lakh families remain stranded across 74 upazilas in 11 districts due to the devastating flood, with three more deaths reported as of this (26 August) afternoon, bringing the total death toll to 23.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, of the new deaths, two occurred in Noakhali and one in Khagrachhari, while two people are still missing in Moulvibazar.
Despite some improvements in flood conditions across the affected districts, the water level of the Gumti River in Cumilla remains above the danger level.
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According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Gumti River at the Cumilla point was flowing more than 39 centimetres above the danger level as of yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, the water levels of the Kushiyara and Muhuri rivers have fallen below the danger level, but the decrease in water levels has been slow.
FFWC Executive Engineer Sarder Udoy Raihan told TBS, "The flood water in Cumilla will go down in the next 24 hours. There is no possibility of new floods anywhere in the country in the next few days. In the last 24 hours, the water level of the rivers was higher than the previous days. The flood situation is likely to improve a lot in the next two days."
57 lakh people affected
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, over 57 lakh people have been affected as flood wreaked havoc in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar.
Around 4.7 lakh people have taken shelter in 3,6834 shelter centres while 28,907 domestic animals were kept there. A total of 645 medical teams are providing medical services in the flood-affected areas, the ministry said.
A sum of Tk3.52 crore has been allocated in the flood-stricken districts while 20,650 tonnes of rice, 15,000 pieces of dry foods or other foods and baby foods and fodder worth Tk35 lakh each were allocated, as per the ministry.
Mobile and telecommunication services have been restored in the worst-hit Feni district. Field hospitals have been prepared to provide treatments.
Alongside government institutions, private organisations, businesses and general people are also providing relief materials in the flood-affected areas.
The deputy commissioners of the flood-affected districts have been instructed to work together with the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, army, navy, medical team and other volunteers.
BMD issues local cautionary signal-3
Today, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a warning with Local Cautionary Signal No 3 for the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra.
According to the notice, the low-pressure area over the northwest bay and adjacent southern part of Bangladesh has intensified into a well-marked low and is now positioned over Gangetic West Bengal and nearby areas. Under its influence, deep convection is occurring over the northern bay, potentially leading to gusty or squally weather affecting the maritime ports, the northern bay, and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern bay have been advised to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
According to the BMD bulletin published yesterday evening, light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds, are likely to occur in many areas of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions, and in a few areas of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy to heavy rainfall expected in some parts of the country.
Low-lying areas in Khulna submerged
The low-lying areas of Deluti union in Paikgacha upazila of Khulna have been submerged due to the collapse of an embankment, leaving 15,000 people stranded.
Several fish enclosures were washed away while a vast tract of cropland was inundated.
Local people witnessed the breaches in the embankment near no 22 polder of the Water Development Board in Deluti union on 21 August that worried the residents over possible flash flood.
Due to the collapse of the embankment, erosion has taken a serious turn in the area. Fourteen villages under the union were submerged. The villages include Kalinagar, Darul Mallik, Syed Khali, Harinkhola, Senerhat, Gopipagla, Khejurtala, Telikhola, Hatbari, Phulbari, Bigordana, Durgapur and Noalgram.
The residents of these villages have taken shelter on high places, roads, and schools.
Nazneen Begum, Paikgachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said some 2,000 people have taken shelter in the schools and sufficient relief materials were provided.
Ashim Kumar Das, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said a total of 950 hectares of Aman paddy, 225 hectares of Aman paddy seeds, and 25 hectares of vegetable lands have been damaged due to the flashflood.
Contacted, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board, Ashraful Islam, said it is not possible to build an embankment right now due to the rise in water level.
UK provides £33,000 to Bangladesh flood victims
The United Kingdom has announced £33,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance for Bangladesh to support people affected by severe flooding in Feni, Khagrachari, and Noakhali.
The aid will provide vital resources for search and rescue operations, food, cash transfers, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies, according to a press release issued by the British High Commission today.
