2 lakh people stranded in 9 upazilas of Chattogram

Continuous heavy rainfall and flash floods have left approximately two lakh people from around 46,000 families stranded in at least nine upazilas of Chattogram.

To address the situation, 84 shelter centres have been opened. 

Water levels have risen on roads across the upazilas, disrupting transportation and communication.

Md. Saifullah Majumder, the Chattogram district relief and rehabilitation officer, told The Business Standard, "In the upazilas of Mirsharai and Fatikchhari, 35 boats are engaged in rescue operations. In addition to opening 84 shelter centers, 111 medical teams have been formed."

ABM Moshiuzzaman, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hathazari, told TBS, "Eight unions of the upazila have been flooded. The situation is still manageable. Shelters have been opened, but no one has taken refuge there yet."

Ujjwal Kanti Pal, a meteorologist from the Patenga Weather Office, told TBS, "As of 3pm on Thursday, 158.8 mm of rainfall was recorded in the previous 24 hours. We expect the situation to improve from tonight."

Meanwhile, as water levels at the Kaptai Dam rise, the opening of the sluice gates has raised concerns among residents of Kaptai, Lichubagan, and Rangunia. 

Water from the artificial lake created by the dam is usually discharged through turbines to Rangunia. However, if water levels rise significantly, it will be directly discharged through the sluice gates, potentially flooding nearby areas.

ATM Abduzzaher, the manager and engineer of the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Power Station at Kaptai, told TBS, "No decision has been made yet regarding releasing water. If the water level approaches 108 feet, it will be considered. Everything depends on the rainfall."