Flood situation improving further

---

The figure of casualties from the current flooding went up steadily with 18 more deaths taking the total toll to 210 Thursday morning when the overall flood situation improved further, reports UNB.
A release from the Food and Disaster Management Ministry said nearly 9.9 million (99 lakh) people of more than 2.0 million families have been hit by the floodwaters in 38 districts.
Some 334,085 people have taken shelter in 1,317 flood shelter centres.
With the recession of floodwater, diarrhhoea broke out at many places due to lack of pure drinking water.
A doctor at the city's ICDDR.B said some 700 patients affected by diarrhoea were admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till midnight Wednesday. In last one week, he said 4397 patients were admitted.
However, a preliminary bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said the river Jamuna receded by 27 cm and 24 cm at Sirajganj and Aricha points but was flowing 12 cm and 56 cm above the danger mark respectively Thursday morning.
The Turag at Mirpur and Tongi Khal points was also flowing above the danger mark.
The Padma at Goalanda and Bhagyakul started receding but was still flowing 45 cm and 73 cm above the danger level respectively.
The Meghna also receded and was flowing 55 cm above the danger mark at Bhairab Bazar.
The flood caused damages to 89,048 houses completely and 741,543 houses partially, standing crops on 7,93,140 acres completely and on 656,187 acres partially, 2,817 km roads completely and 17,915 km roads partially, and 670 educational institutions completely and 5,674 partially.
The damages also include 74 km embankments (completely) and 6,434 kms (partially), and 33 bridge-culvert (completely) and 870 (partially).
A report of the bdnews24.com adds: Water levels of almost all the rivers went down in the 24 hours from 6am Wednesday. However, 10 rivers were still flowing above their respective danger levels at 13 points.
Water Development Board assistant engineer Ainul Kabir working at the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said the situation is expected to turn normal within the next 10 days as the waters of all the rivers are receding.
Waters of the rivers flowing through Dhaka and its adjoining areas have also started decreasing. However, the rate of water recession in the region is slow.
The FFWC says the Balu River waters receded by 8cm at Demra point and was flowing at 37 cm above the danger level. The Shitalakhya went down by 9cm and was flowing 34 cm above the red mark.