Flood situation worsens in northern districts, death toll rises to 36

The flood situation further deteriorated in the northern districts on Tuesday which aggravated the ongoing sufferings of millions of people living in these districts. The water level soared further in Dinajpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Netrakona. According to the Department of Disaster Management, death toll rose to 36 from 32 on Tuesday. A total of 17 people died in Dinajpur, six in Kurigram, five in Lalmonirhat, five in Nilphamari, two in Chapainawabganj and one in Moulvibazar, said the Department of Disaster Management control room. Road and rail communications have been suspended between the northern districts and the rest of the country since Friday. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, at least 387,834 hectares of crop fields have been inundated in the flood affected areas. The residents of these areas are facing acute crisis of food, shelter and safe drinking water. Some of the district administrations have started distributing dry food, rice, water and cash money among the victims to mitigate their sufferings. The flood situation is being feared to take an ominous turn as the water level in the rivers Padma and Jamuna has been on the rise for the last couple of days. According to Water Development Board sources, the Jamuneswari River was flowing 126cm above danger level at Badarganj in Rangpur while the Dharla was flowing 96cm over danger level in Kurigram on Tuesday. The Brahmaputra was flowing above danger level by 14cm at Noonkhawa, 87cm at Chilmari and 100cm at Fulchhari points while the Ghaghot was flowing 83cm above danger level at Gaibandha. The Jamuna was flowing above danger limit by 133cm, 117cm, 128cm and 135cm at Bahadurabad, Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj respectively. The Punarvaba at Dinajpur and the Karotoa at Gaibandha are flowing above danger level by 55cm and 17cm respectively. In Jamalpur, at least 300,000 people in 40 unions were marooned as water level of the Jamuna was flowing 133cm above the danger level. The rail communication in the district has been suspended since Monday night as the rail tracks went under water in Dhurmut and Islampur area. In Natore, the water level of the Atrai River was flowing 30cm above the danger level at ferry ghat point in Singra upazila. Haat, bazars, houses, different establishments and low lying areas of the district have been submerged by the flood waters. In Lalmonirhat, two people drowned in flood waters at Mogolhat area in Sadar upazila. The deceased were identified as Wazed Miah, 46, and Aynal Ali, 13. Around 400,000 people of some 95,000 families have been marooned in the district owing to the recent flood. The operation of Burimari Land Port, the third largest land port in the country, remained suspended due to the flood situation.