Chandpur-Noakhali and Lakshmipur floods worsen, still 2 million people trapped in water

Heavy rain since night

Although the flood water has receded in Feni, the flood situation has worsened in Noakhali, Chandpur and Lakshmipur due to continuous rain since Tuesday night. Meanwhile, due to the receding of the flood water, there is a shortage of food and fresh water in various affected areas of Feni.

The flood situation has worsened in Noakhali due to continuous rain from last night till this Wednesday morning. In eight upazilas of the district, two million people are still under water. Volunteers say that rescue and relief operations are being disrupted due to the boat crisis. So far eight people have died due to drowning and electrocution in the district.

Even in Chandpur, overnight rain did not improve the flood situation. Floods have receded in Shahrasti and Hajiganj. However, the situation has improved somewhat in Faridganj due to the reduction of water. One and a half lakh people are trapped in water in three upazilas of the district.

Meanwhile, the flood situation has worsened in Lakshmipur due to rain from night till this morning. Eight lakh people affected by floods in five upazilas.

Many people left their homes in Comilla and went to shelters. 60 thousand hectares of cropland are under water. However, the flood situation in Feni has improved. Some areas are still flooded. Apart from this, the flood situation in Kulaura, Kamalganj of Moulvibazar has improved. However, there is no change in Haor area.

In this ongoing flood, crops of around 1 lakh 46 thousand hectares of land have been damaged in five districts of Chittagong Agricultural Region – Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Feni and Lakshmipur. Out of this, 10,500 hectares of Aman seedbeds and 1,200,000 hectares of cultivated Aman crops were lost. Apart from this, 22 thousand hectares of aush, seven thousand hectares of vegetables and about three thousand hectares of fruit gardens have been damaged. Ginger, turmeric, betel nut, sugarcane and other crops were also destroyed. Vast cropland of Gumai Bill is under threat due to release of water from Kaptai lake. However, Deputy Director of Chittagong Agriculture Extension Department, Abduch Chhobhan said, if the water subsides in a few days, there will not be much damage to Gumai Bill.

Meanwhile, the victims complained that they did not get relief even in a week in various flood-affected areas. This complaint is more common in villages and remote areas. Volunteers say that due to various reasons including lack of boats, it is not possible to reach those stuck in remote areas.

But the picture is different in Moulvibazar. Administration and volunteers have listed to send relief to remote areas. The residents of remote areas have sought the help of the army and navy in orderly distribution of relief to the flood-affected areas.

Bangladesh /OF