One lakh flood-affected people evacuated in Sylhet, Sunamganj

Up to one lakh people have so far been evacuated from the flood-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said on Sunday.

Nearly 40 lakh people have been marooned in the two districts in one of the worst floods in the region in memory. 

The rain-fed deluge inundated 60 percent areas in Sylhet district and 90 percent areas in Sunamganj district, the state minister told reporters at the Secretariat.

He said that at the directives of the Prime Minister the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Fire Service men are conducting the rescue operation.

At least 32 boats of Army, 12 boats of Navy and four boats of Fire Service are conducting the rescue operation, he said.

Already 75,000 people have taken shelter in different centers in Sunamganj and 30,000 people in Sylhet.

He said two people have died, one died from electrocution while another drowned in the flood water. There is no report of any one missing during the flood, he added.

The flood situation slightly improved in Sylhet while it remained static in Sunamganj district. Besides, the flood situation worsened in Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts.

Enamur said that the flood situation may worsen in northern parts of the country after Monday.

Referring to the weather report, state minister said flood water may start to recede from Tuesday and it will continue for three more days as per the report of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Many areas in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Moulvibazar and Habiganj district have been inundated in fresh flood while 70 upazilas in 12 districts were inundated by the flood water, he said.

The flood situation in north-eastern areas may improve but it will turn worse in the adjacent northern parts of the country due to rise in water levels of Brahmmaputra and Teesta, he said.

Already Tk 2.60 crore has been allocated for the flood-hit people in Sunamganj and Sylhet districts and Tk 10 lakh, 100 metric tonnes of rice, 4,000 packets of dry foods were sent to the districts which have been flooded newly.

Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also provided  another Tk 20 crore for the flood-hit people, said the minister.

A continuous supply chain is under process to maintain the disbursement of relief in the flood-hit areas, he said.