Flood death toll hits 54 as water recedes gradually
As many as 54,64,167 people have been affected by the flood in 11 districts
The death toll from the recent devastating floods in 11 districts has reached 54, with two more deaths reported on Friday, even as floodwaters begin to recede in some areas.
Triggered by heavy rains and mountain runoff from India, the floods have claimed the lives of 41 men, six women, and seven children.
Most of the casualties occurred in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, and Noakhali, while Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar, Lakshmipur, and Cox's Bazar also reported deaths. One person remains missing in Moulvibazar.
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Meanwhile, floodwaters are receding faster in Feni and Noakhali compared to Lakshmipur, where many areas remain submerged.
Despite some improvement, vast regions in Lakshmipur, including villages around Chandraganj Bazar, are still underwater, causing severe disruption. The main road from Lakshmipur to Dhaka, Chattogram, and Cumilla remains flooded, with large potholes posing additional risks to commuters.
In Feni, water has receded from 12 unions, but residents are still struggling to return to normalcy, with many homes destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
The Department of Agricultural Extension estimates around Tk914 crore in damage to agriculture, fisheries, and livestock in six upazilas of Feni, with crop losses alone exceeding Tk451.2 crore.
Noakhali has seen water levels decrease on the main roads, but many rural roads remain submerged, making them inaccessible.
Over 264,743 people in Noakhali are still sheltering in government centres. Some residents have started to return home from shelters, but the process is slow.
In Lakshmipur, the slow recession of floodwaters is attributed to the obstruction of the district's 90 canals, delaying residents' return. If it does not rain by Saturday, officials are hopeful that more people may begin to return home, though uncertainty remains.
As many as 54,64,167 people have been affected by the flood in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar.
