Flood situation worsens further in south-central part

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As there has been little respite in rain and onrush of water from hills, the flood situation aggravated further in the country's south-central part Tuesday, taking the death toll from the monsoon flooding to 848, report agencies.
However, the flood situation might gradually improve even though active monsoon might induce rains across the country for one or two more days, the Flood Forecast and Warning Centre (FFWC) said Tuesday.
A FFWC official said, river waters swelled in 37 points, receded in 22 points and remained unchanged in one point.
A weathercast for the next 24-hours said, heavy to extremely heavy rain may fall over several places of Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions. Many places of all divisional headquarters may see moderate rainfall.
Sources at the Health Department said, the number of deaths caused by diarrhoea, drowning, snakebites and respiratory diseases has climbed up to 848 across the country since the flood onslaught began on July 30.
Meanwhile, six children, including two twin brothers, drowned in floodwater in Islampur and Sarishabari upazilas of Jamalpur Tuesday morning.
Locals said, the 18-month-old twin brothers and two other children of Sobhar Char Pashchimpara in Islampur upazila drowned while playing in the floodwater at about 8am. Later, the bodies of Shafiqul and Rafiqul, twin sons of Mannan, Arfan, 18-month-old son of Shahjahan and Jonaki, 20-month-old daughter of Nurunnabi were recovered from the floodwater.
Besides, two children of a family - Mukta (12), and Sohag (6) -drowned in floodwater at Monarpara in Sarishabari upazila in the morning.
However, it could not be confirmed whether the Health Department figure contained these six deaths reported from Jamalpur.
A PID handout said, seven more districts were flooded afresh, raising the number of affected districts to 46, where 1,10,000 people remained marooned.
According to the FFWC, the flood situation in the country's south-central part continued to deteriorate.
The prevailing flood situation in the districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj is likely to deteriorate slightly in the next 24-hours, but the situation in Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Netrakona and Sherpur is expected to improve in the next 24-48 hours.
The situation in south-eastern districts like Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Chittagong is likely to improve further, but the situation in Comilla, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur may remain unchanged.
According to the FFWC, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna registered rise at Noonkhawa and Aricha points, was flowing 18-cm, 32-cm, 80-cm and 37-cm above their danger levels at Chilmari, Bahadurabad, Sirajganj and Aricha respectively.
The Teesta at Dalia observed a rise by 10-cm, while the Buriganga at Dhaka by 25-cm. The Balu at Demra registered a rise by 11-cm while the Turag at Mirpur by 13-cm.