Floods damage 45,000 houses in Sunamganj

The devastating floods in northeastern Bangladesh have caused damage to at least 45,286 houses in Sunamganj, reports bdnews24.com.

The figure does not account for a massive number of houses and it will take another month to come up with a more accurate estimate, Deputy Commissioner Md Jahangir Hossain said.

An initial survey revealed that the floods left houses of 4,745 families in ruins while partially damaging homes of another 40,541 families there. A report was sent to the cabinet secretary on June 29, Jahangir said.

The study did not look into damages caused to roads, bridges, culverts, livestock, crops or fisheries, the official added.

Local public representatives and flood-hit people said simply counting houses cannot give a complete account of the losses as it leaves out home accessories and other daily essentials.

Sanwar Begum from Upazila's Balikandi village said it would be impossible for her to build another house without assistance.

Many houses are still submerged and the extent of damage will increase once the water recedes, said Kathair Union Parishad Chairman Mufti Shamsul Islam.

He said hundreds of clay houses collapsed in the floods in his union.

The inundation caused similar devastation to the area of Abdus Salam, a former chairman of Mollapara UP.

"If the government does not provide assistance, the flood-affected people will become homeless," he said.

UNB adds: After a rise over the last two days, the water level of the Surma and Kushiyara rivers started falling again in Sylhet and Sunamganj on Friday.

According to the Water Development Board, the water level of the Surma River has gone down by 10 cm at Kanaighat Point and 4 cm at Sylhet Point at 12pm on Friday. However, the water level of the Kushiyara River is stable.

Meanwhile, it drizzled in Sylhet on Friday as well. However, there is no possibility of water rise in these rivers due to this light rain, said AKM Niloy Pasha, deputy assistant engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board.

Besides, rains are likely over this region for three more days, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

Asif Ahmed, executive engineer of the Sylhet Water Development Board, said that there was no possibility of fresh flood due to this rain as the Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre reported.

In Sunamganj, the water level of the Surma River has receded by 13 cm at Sadar municipality on Friday morning. This district recorded 21 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.

Road communication in four upazilas is still cut off as the floodwaters have not receded completely. In Sunamganj municipal town, Kazir Point, Bilpara, Nabinagar, West Natunpara areas, floodwaters fell slightly.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said all major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are in a falling trend, which may continue falling in the next 24 hours.

However, the Brahmaputra River is in a steady-state, while the Jamuna River and Padma River are on the rising trend. These rivers may rise in the next 24-48 hours.

The flood situation in Kurigram, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria districts may improve in the next 24 hours, it added in their latest report.

Meanwhile, flood claimed three more lives in Mymensingh, Netrokona and Sunamganj in 24 hours till Friday morning, raising the total fatalities to 95.

Of the deceased, two drowned while another died from lightning strike, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Among the total deceased, 68 people died by drowning in floodwater, 15 from lightning strikes, two from snake bites, one from diarrhoea, and nine due to other reasons.

The total deaths were recorded from May 17 to June 30.