Overnight rain has caused floodwaters to rise again in Noakhali, causing waterlogging and intensifying human suffering, with around 1.3 million people still submerged across the district.
Light to moderate rainfall began Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning, adding three to four inches of water in the low-lying areas, locals reported.
While some parts of the district saw receding floodwaters due to recent sunny weather, most low-lying areas remain waterlogged, and previously flooded roads have been submerged once again.
Residents attribute the prolonged waterlogging to canal encroachments, unplanned culverts, dams obstructing drainage, and construction by filling.
The worst-affected areas include Senbagh, Begumganj, Sonaimuri, and Chatkhil upazilas, while some improvement has been seen in Sadar, Companiganj, and Subarnachar upazilas.
Despite floodwaters receding in some areas, many remain underwater, with knee- to waist-deep flooding in certain places. Many families who returned from shelters are facing food shortages as their kitchens were destroyed by the floods. While relief aid and food supplies were abundant early on, assistance has now significantly decreased.
According to the deputy commissioner’s office, 70,000 people remain in shelters, and cases of diarrhoea have surged, with 448 patients admitted to the upazila health complexes and Noakhali General Hospital.
