Flood death toll rises to 16, water levels begin to recede
Among the deceased, four died in Cumilla, one in Feni, four in Chattogram, one in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur, and four in Cox’s Bazar
- 92% of mobile towers are non-functional in Feni district
- 11% of mobile towers in other flood-hit districts out of service
- Khowai River 120cm above danger, Feni 155cm, Halda 32cm
- Communication with Muhuri and Halda river stations severed
- Rain likely today in areas of Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram divisions
At least 16 deaths have been reported across the country as several districts have been flooded in the past three days.
Among the deceased, four died in Cumilla, one in Feni, four in Chattogram, one in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur, and four in Cox's Bazar.
Two children and two women were also among the deceased, according to the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and media reports. The causes of their deaths included electrocution, felling of trees, and drowning.
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The water levels of some rivers in the flood-affected districts, including the Gomti River in Cumilla, began to recede on Friday (23 August) after rising till the early hours of the day, according to the latest data from the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
This is expected to result in an improvement of the flood situation in the lower areas adjacent to the Manu, Khowai, and Dhalai rivers of Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts of the northeastern region; and in the lower areas adjacent to rivers such as Feni, Gomti, Halda, and Muhuri in Feni, Cumilla, and Chattogram districts.
Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) told The Business Standard that rainfall in the country is decreasing.
There is a possibility of rainfall of less than 44mm in some areas of Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions on Saturday (24 August), he said, adding that rain is expected to continue, but with less intensity.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the floods have affected 589 unions in 77 upazilas across 11 districts. A total of 946,769 families have been inundated.
As of Friday, 31,760 shelters have been opened to provide refuge for displaced individuals, accommodating nearly 2 lakh people and over 18,000 livestock.
In the affected 11 districts, 639 medical teams are providing healthcare services. The ministry has allocated Tk3.52 crore in cash, 20,150 tonnes of rice, and 15,000 packets of dry food for relief efforts.
The army and navy have also donated an amount equivalent to one day's salary of all its members to the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund.
A range of government and private institutions are also providing relief assistance. Many have contributed a portion of their salaries to support relief programmes.
Water levels decreasing
As of 6pm on Friday, data from the FFWC showed water levels in the Gumti, Kushiyara, Manu, Khowai, and Meghna rivers had dropped by 3cm to 80cm over the past nine hours.
However, the Halda River at Chattogram's Narayanghat station saw a 12cm rise in water level. Despite these changes, water levels in the rivers remain above the danger level.
Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer at FFWC, said the flood situation is expected to improve within 48 hours as rainfall decreases upstream, leading to reduced water flow from India.
The flood situation in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Cumilla, and Chattogram was slowly improving. The BMD reported that there has been no heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours in the area, which borders India's Tripura, or in Tripura's inland basins.
They also noted that heavy rainfall is unlikely in the northeastern and southeastern regions, as well as in adjacent uplands, over the next 24 hours.
Hundred villages flooded in Cumilla
Hundreds of villages in Cumilla became inundated as the dam on the Gumti river broke on Friday.
Water started entering the localities through a small hole in the dam at the Burburia area of Cumilla's Burichang upazila around midnight on Friday. Within a short time, the hole expanded significantly, and water started flooding Burichang.
As of 9am this morning, reports indicate that over a hundred villages in Burichang and Brahmanpara have been submerged.
Six lakh stranded in Lakshmipur
Around six lakh people in the coastal district of Lakshmipur have been stranded in the floods.
Hundreds of low-lying villages including four municipal towns of the district have been affected by the unprecedented floods, disrupting daily life, said locals.
Since Thursday morning, water levels have been rising in various parts of the town and surrounding areas, with torrential rain persisting.
Locals said many homes are inundated, making cooking and other daily activities difficult. Some have had to seek refuge with relatives or in shelter centres due to the severe conditions.
Several hundred fish farms, poultry farms, aman seedbeds and vegetable fields have been damaged in the district.
Villages, fish enclosures, crop fields inundated in Khulna
Several villages, fish enclosures and crop fields were inundated by heavy tides in Dakop and Paikgasa upazilas of Khulna after the river embankments collapsed.
The Panikhali embankment in Dakop upazila collapsed inundating fish farms and villages. Similarly, in Paikgasa's Diluhti union, the WAPDA embankment also gave in allowing water to enter residential areas.
Locals said that at around 1pm on Thursday, the WAPDA embankment at the southern end of the 22nd Polder in Kalinagar, Diluhti union, broke apart due to the high tide.
This breach, extending over 300 feet, flooded the villages of Kalinagar, Horinkhola and Darunmallik. Recently planted paddies and seedbeds, along with homes, have been submerged.
TBS District Correspondents contributed to this story.
