The death toll in the ongoing floods rose to 18 on Monday with over five million people being affected in 11 districts of the country. Although the situation has started to improve, most of the affected areas are still under knee-deep water.
Among the deaths, four were recorded in Comilla, one in Feni, five in Chittagong, three in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three were in Cox's Bazar districts, according to the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.
A total of 9,44,548 families have been stranded while 2,84,888 people and 21,695 cattle were given shelter at 3,527 shelter centers in the ongoing floods since Tuesday. The floods have hit 587 unions and municipalities under 77 upazilas of 11 districts.
The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources on Monday said a total of 928,000 consumers in nine flood-affected districts in the southeastern regions of the country are currently without power.
According to the data, a total of 17 substations have been shut down in Feni, the hardest-hit district, leaving 441,000 customers without power.
Other affected districts include Chandpur, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chittagong, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Moulvibazar, and Brahmanbaria.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) has said the overall situation is likely to improve today as there was little rain across the country in the past 24 hours. However, water levels at nine stations along six rivers in these areas are still above the danger mark. Meanwhile, water levels at five other stations along these rivers have now dropped below the danger level.
on Monday’s bulletin also mentioned that there has been no significant rainfall in the eastern regions of Comilla, Brahmanbaria, and Feni districts along the Tripura border and within the Tripura basin over the last 24 hours.
The water levels in the upstream rivers are receding.
As a result, the flood situation in the low-lying areas of Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Comilla, and Chittagong districts has been improving since Friday.
In the next 24 hours, the flood situation in the low-lying areas near the Manu, Khowai, Dhalai, Muhuri, Feni, Gumti, and Halda rivers may continue to improve, according to FFWC.
In the meantime, levels of water in 24 stations declined on Monday, with 86 others increasing.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated Tk3.5 crore for cash disbursement, 20,150 tons of rice and 15,000 packets of dry foods for the 11 flood-hit districts. A total of 770 medical teams are working to provide treatment to the affected people in the flood-hit districts.
Army, navy, coast guard, Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB), fire service and civil defence and students' community in coordination with district administration have been engaging in rescue efforts in the flood-hit areas.
A field hospital has been prepared in Feni for providing treatment to the flood-affected. Physicians from the army and district civil surgeon office are providing treatment. The Adviser for Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and Secretary of the ministry visited the flood-hit areas. The adviser is now based in Feni.
The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has opened a control room for providing information and support for the flood-hit areas.
Deputy commissioners of flood affected districts have been given necessary directives to work together in coordination with coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, army, navy, medical teams and other volunteers.
People interested in standing by the flood victims have been urged to send money to 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund'.
A disaster management support coordination cell has been formed in the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs to help deal with the flood situation in Bangladesh.
The coordination cell will update the relevant authorities with the information to be received along with maintaining constant communication with all involved in disaster management and follow up at all times.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Monday forecast moderate to heavy rain in three divisions—Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds is likely to occur at many places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet” said a Met office bulletin.
