Situation in some dists may worsen
August 19, 2007 00:00:00
The growing death toll due to drowning, diseases and snakebites during the current flooding rose to 554 as official record-keepers counted 17 more casualties in 24 hours till Saturday morning, reports UNB.
In the meantime, in the wake of a fresh spell of rainstorm under the impact of a latest in a series of depressions over the Bay, the flood situation in some districts could again deteriorate slightly.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) made the forecast Saturday when millions of people were still reeling from the worst floods in the country in a decade.
It said, "The flood situation in some districts is likely to deteriorate slightly as rivers swell due to heavy rain."
Some 10.5 million people of 39 districts have been affected by the floods, which started rolling in on July 30 and engulfed most part of the country. Nearly 1,62,814 people have taken shelter in 613 relief camps, having been displaced from their homes.
According to statistics provided by the Food and Disaster Management Ministry, the flooding damaged some 9,44,878 houses completely or partially, crops on 15,17,700 acres completely or partially while some 25,849 kms of roads were damaged completely or partially and 7550 educational institutions damaged completely or partially during the flooding.
The flood onslaughts also damaged 803 kms of embankments completely or partially while some 1,764 bridges and culverts were damaged completely or partially during the running calamity.
Meanwhile, relief supplies in cash and kind from the Chief Adviser's relief fund continued to be sent for the flood-hit people.
The FFWC further says monsoon remains "vigorously active" over the eastern part of Bihar, West Bengal and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal (Ganges basin). And it has turned "fairly active (from mostly active)' over Brahmaputra and Meghna basins (both in Indian part and in Bangladesh).
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna continued rising at a lower rate and once again crossed the danger level at Aricha. The rate of rise is expected to be slower further in next ½ days as Indian Meteorological Department forecasts decreased rainfall over Assam and Meghalaya after next 12 hours.
And the Ganges-Padma also continued rising and is likely to continue to rise further in the next 24-72 hours. The Ganges basin is 'vulnerable' to floods during late August and September though Bihar, East Uttar Pradesh and Nepal (India and Nepal's part of Ganges basin) have already experienced devastating floods in late July, it said.
Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Kushtia are vulnerable districts to Ganges-basin flooding in Bangladesh part of the common Himalayan river system.
The Ganges basin is experiencing heavy rainfall in side and out side the country and the Padma at Goalundo and Bhagyakul registered further rise and could continue over the next 24-72 hours.
Flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Chandpur and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is likely to deteriorate slightly.
Small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj were observed to rise and fall. The rivers are expected to show a mix trend in next 24-72 hours.
Flood situation around Dhaka city, especially in the unprotected eastern part, is likely to remain static and then deteriorate slightly over the next 24-72 hours.
The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts: The current meteorological analysis suggests ongoing fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy-to-very-heavy falls over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Bihar and northeastern states (which finally drains rainwater through Bangladesh) is likely to decrease from today onwards.
The local met office adds: The Brahmaputra-Jamuna twin at Serajganj is likely to rise by 6 cm and flow 10 cm below danger level, and rise 6 cm at Aricha and flow 11 cm above danger level.