Dearth of bare necessities in flood-hit districts
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
The current floods that caused havoc to life and property across the country took a toll of at least 156 people died until Monday morning, as millions marooned or homeless remained in abject misery for dearth of bare necessities and outbreaks of diseases.
According to official statistics, 36 more deaths have been reported from different districts in 24 hours since 11am Sunday, showing the incidence of casualty on a steady rise from the flooding that still continued worsening in the country's central part.
A latest forecast from the government-run warning centre said floodwaters rolling down from upstream would cause a further deterioration of the flooding in and around the capital city with rivers and streams showing continuous swelling.
"The Buriganga at Dhaka may cross danger level by Monday evening. All the rivers (surrounding Dhaka) are likely to rise further at a lower rate in next 24, 48 and 72 hours," it said.
And inundation of low-lying areas in the eastern part of Dhaka city is likely to continue at a lower rate, said the centre in its bulletin.
A government estimate released on Monday forenoon said the floods kept marooned over 8.7 million people of 1.9 million families in 239 upazilas in 39 districts. Of the total, five new upazilas and a district came under the grips of flooding during the period.
Over 0.3 million flood-hit people have so far taken shelter in 1,412 flood centers in the affected districts.
Agriculture among the affected productive sectors bears the brunt of the calamity as standing crops on more than 1.4 million acres of land were fully or partially damaged.
Small and cottage industries were also wrecked especially in the towns still under water.
According to the official statistics, at least 89,048 houses were completely and about 0.6 million partially damaged. A total of 317 educational institutions were completely and 4,628 partially damaged.
Some 58,092-km flood-protection embankments were completely washed away while 1,475 kms partially affected.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said the flood situation in northern and some central parts started improving Monday.
Small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj continued rising and the Balu at Demra, the Lakhya at Narayanganj, the Turag at Mirpur and the Tongi Khal at Tongi are flowing above danger level by 47 cm, 52 cm, 48 cm and 64 cm respectively.
The FFWC bulletin further said inundation of low-lying areas in the eastern part of the capital "is likely to be continued at a lower rate".
Many of the rivers in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna and the South Eastern hill basins observed fall and several others observed rise.
The main rivers are still flowing above danger levels in 20 monitoring stations. Water Level marked rise at 20 points while registered fall at 38 points.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna receded further significantly at all points but was flowing 7.0 cm, 79 cm, and 105 cm above danger level at Bahadurabad, Sirajganj and Aricha respectively.
Remarkable improvements of the prevailing flood situation in northern districts (Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Bogra and Jamalpur) and northeastern districts (Netrakona, Sunamganj and Sylhet) are expected in next 72 hours.
The situation in the districts of Sirajganj, Pabna and Tangail has started improving and will "improve significantly" further.
The Ganges-Padma continued rising slowly at upstream points and is flowing 137 cm and 110 cm above danger level at Goalundo and Bhagyakul respectively.
The Kaliganga at Taraghat and the Dhaleswari at Jagir were flowing 137 cm and 120 cm above danger level respectively.
Flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is likely to remain unchanged and expected to start improving slowly from today (Tuesday).
According to official statistics, 36 more deaths have been reported from different districts in 24 hours since 11am Sunday, showing the incidence of casualty on a steady rise from the flooding that still continued worsening in the country's central part.
A latest forecast from the government-run warning centre said floodwaters rolling down from upstream would cause a further deterioration of the flooding in and around the capital city with rivers and streams showing continuous swelling.
"The Buriganga at Dhaka may cross danger level by Monday evening. All the rivers (surrounding Dhaka) are likely to rise further at a lower rate in next 24, 48 and 72 hours," it said.
And inundation of low-lying areas in the eastern part of Dhaka city is likely to continue at a lower rate, said the centre in its bulletin.
A government estimate released on Monday forenoon said the floods kept marooned over 8.7 million people of 1.9 million families in 239 upazilas in 39 districts. Of the total, five new upazilas and a district came under the grips of flooding during the period.
Over 0.3 million flood-hit people have so far taken shelter in 1,412 flood centers in the affected districts.
Agriculture among the affected productive sectors bears the brunt of the calamity as standing crops on more than 1.4 million acres of land were fully or partially damaged.
Small and cottage industries were also wrecked especially in the towns still under water.
According to the official statistics, at least 89,048 houses were completely and about 0.6 million partially damaged. A total of 317 educational institutions were completely and 4,628 partially damaged.
Some 58,092-km flood-protection embankments were completely washed away while 1,475 kms partially affected.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said the flood situation in northern and some central parts started improving Monday.
Small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj continued rising and the Balu at Demra, the Lakhya at Narayanganj, the Turag at Mirpur and the Tongi Khal at Tongi are flowing above danger level by 47 cm, 52 cm, 48 cm and 64 cm respectively.
The FFWC bulletin further said inundation of low-lying areas in the eastern part of the capital "is likely to be continued at a lower rate".
Many of the rivers in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna and the South Eastern hill basins observed fall and several others observed rise.
The main rivers are still flowing above danger levels in 20 monitoring stations. Water Level marked rise at 20 points while registered fall at 38 points.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna receded further significantly at all points but was flowing 7.0 cm, 79 cm, and 105 cm above danger level at Bahadurabad, Sirajganj and Aricha respectively.
Remarkable improvements of the prevailing flood situation in northern districts (Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Bogra and Jamalpur) and northeastern districts (Netrakona, Sunamganj and Sylhet) are expected in next 72 hours.
The situation in the districts of Sirajganj, Pabna and Tangail has started improving and will "improve significantly" further.
The Ganges-Padma continued rising slowly at upstream points and is flowing 137 cm and 110 cm above danger level at Goalundo and Bhagyakul respectively.
The Kaliganga at Taraghat and the Dhaleswari at Jagir were flowing 137 cm and 120 cm above danger level respectively.
Flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is likely to remain unchanged and expected to start improving slowly from today (Tuesday).