Homes, schools, cropland damage surfaces as floodwater recedes in Ctg
The death toll from floods and landslides has risen to 57 with three more deaths in the past 24 hours.
Highlights:
- Over 15,000 homes, 387 schools and 1,320km of roads damaged
- Authorities begin damage assessment and rehabilitation efforts
- Relief continues as focus shifts to safe water and disease prevention
Floodwaters have started receding across flood-hit areas of Chattogram, exposing extensive damage to homes, cropland, fish farms and public infrastructure after a week-long deluge triggered by heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff.
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With no rainfall over the past three days, water levels have fallen in most affected areas, allowing authorities to begin detailed damage assessments while continuing relief operations.
According to the Chattogram district administration, the floods inundated 176 unions, damaging 15,228 houses, 405 educational institutions, nearly 1,492 kilometres of roads, and 169 bridges and culverts.
The administration said its immediate priorities are distributing relief, assessing losses to homes, cropland, fish enclosures, livestock and transport infrastructure, rehabilitating affected families, and preventing post-flood disease outbreaks.
The flooding hit Banshkhali and Satkania the hardest, leaving around 5.5 lakh people stranded. Nearly 80% of Banshkhali and 70% of Satkania were inundated after prolonged rainfall, hill runoff and rising water levels in the Sangu and Dolu rivers.
Damage surfaces as water recedes
Residents said floodwaters have receded from Ashkariapara, Mohajanpara and Rongiyaghona in Banshkhali municipality; several areas of Baharchhara and Chhanua unions. However, damaged rural roads remain visible across the upazila.
Preliminary estimates by the Banshkhali upazila administration suggest 4,000-5,000 mud and semi-permanent houses have been fully or partially damaged, though assessments across all unions are still underway.
The floods have also triggered an acute shortage of safe drinking water, raising fears of waterborne disease outbreaks.
Nurul Amin Chanubi, acting chairman of Chhanua union, said many residents remain stranded, while numerous families are still unable to cook because their homes remain waterlogged. Submerged rural roads continue to isolate several communities.
Banshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ruhul Amin said floodwaters are receding rapidly and are expected to drain from most areas within one or two days, except for a few low-lying pockets.
Heavy losses to agriculture, fisheries in Satkania
Floodwaters have also receded from most parts of Satkania, but the disaster left widespread destruction, damaging roads, culverts, cropland, fish farms, ponds, educational institutions and thousands of homes.
According to the upazila administration, the worst-hit low-lying areas include Nalua, Amilaish, Paschim Dhemsha, Charati, Bazalia, Keochia, Eochia, Dhemsha, Sonakania, Kanchana, Madarsa, Purangarh and Khagaria unions. Officials are preparing a comprehensive damage assessment.
Satkania UNO Khondkar Mahmudul Hasan said assessments of damage to agriculture, fisheries and road infrastructure are underway, with a report expected within the next few days. Around 25,000 affected families have already received relief assistance and safe drinking water, he added.
Chattogram District Fisheries Officer Salma Begum said the flood was among the worst in the district's recorded history. Preliminary estimates put fisheries losses at more than Tk90 crore, while about 400 hectares of summer vegetable fields in Banshkhali were also damaged.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Masudur Rahman said Chattogram has so far received Tk85 lakh in cash and 950 tonnes of rice for relief operations, with distribution continuing.
Death toll from floods, landslides in 7 districts rises to 57
Meanwhile, the death toll from floods and landslides in seven districts rose to 57 after three more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the disaster management and relief ministry, reports UNB.
The ministry said 57 upazilas, 334 unions and nine municipalities in Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Habiganj remain affected.
Of the fatalities, 32 were reported in Cox's Bazar (including 13 Rohingyas), 15 in Chattogram, six in Bandarban, three in Rangamati and one in Moulvibazar. Another 40 people were injured, while 111 shelters are housing 4,079 displaced people.
Fresh low pressure at Bay raises concerns
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist local cautionary signal No 3 as a low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coast, reports UNB.
Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
