The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The prevailing flood situation in the country's northeastern part deteriorated further marooning thousands of people again, while north, north-central and south-central parts are under threat of a second spell of flooding.

Vast areas of the country's northeast and southern areas have been inundated by floodwaters that triggered by incessant rains over the last three days, disrupting road communications and inundating many dwelling houses.

The fresh floods also inundated newly planted saplings of rice and other crops on more than 10 lakh hectares of land.

Officials at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department told The New Nation yesterday that nearly 20 of the country's 64 districts were flooded after three days of rain swelled major rivers flowing through India into Bangladesh.

Health Department sources said the death toll from diarrhea, drowning, snakebite and respiratory diseases has climbed up to 833 across the country since the flood onslaught began on July 30.

The flood situation in the northeastern part comprising Sirajganj, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazaar, Netrakona and Sherpur worsened and could "aggravate further" over the next 24 hours, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

The southeastern Comilla, Feni, Noakhali, Chitagonj, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari are experiencing flashflood and the situation may deteriorate slightly during the period.

Monsoon remains are "very active" over the country and south, southeast, north and northeastern parts of the country received heavy

to very heavy rainfall during last 24 hours ending at 6:00am yesterday.

The FFWC said worse could lie ahead because the annual monsoon was still very active in the Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra river basins.

"Experience shows that the floods of late August or September last longer," said FFWC chief Saiful Hossain.

Our Sirajganj Correspondent Selim Reza reports: The entire Sirajganj town is now under two feet of water again due to fresh flooding.

At least 600 houses at Kopdaspara, Banglabari, Natun Banglabari, Bahirgola Moholla of the Sirajganj municipal area have been inundated by the floodwater.

Floodwater has also inundated Barabazar, Sirajganj Sarak, Munshi Meherullah Sarak, Vocational College Road and Alia Madrasha Road of the town creating great panic among the town dwellers.

The Water Development Board sources said that Jamuna river is flowing 48cm above danger level at 6:00pm yesterday.

Vast areas of the newly constructed alternative embankment at Shubhagacha village under Kazipur upazila was washed away yesterday damaging at least 600 houses of 12 villages under water.

The district administration officials visited the flood-affected areas yesterday.

The low-lying areas including Kazipur, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Shajadpur and Ullapara have been flooded inundating newly sowed saplings of Aman paddy and marooning hundreds of people.

The FFWC said the Dharla at Kurigram recorded rise and was flowing above danger level by 90 cm.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna observed rise at Noonkhawa, at Chilmari, at Bahadurabad, at Sirajganj and at Aricha maintaining 2cm, 30cm, 39cm, 70cm and 10cm above danger level respectively.

The Buriganga at Dhaka recorded rise, the Balu at Demra while the Turag at Mirpur. The Lakhya at Narayanganj also marked rise.

The Ganges-Padma swelled at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Goalundo and at Bhagyakul. The mighty river was flowing 46cm and 33cm above danger level at Goalundo and Bhagyakul respectively.

The Surma registered rise at Kanighat, at Sylhet and at Sunamganj and is flowing above danger level by 183cm at Kanaighat, 25cm at Sylhet and 45cm at Sunamganj yesterday morning.

The Kushiyara registered rise at Amalshid Sheola. It was flowing above danger level by 184cm at Amalshid and 85cm at Sheola.

The Manu registered rise at Manu Railway Bridge and at Moulvibazar flowing 86cm and 9cm above danger level respectively.

The Khowai registered rise at Habiganj, flowing 60cm above its danger mark. The Meghna recorded rise by 1cm at Bhairab Bazar.

The Gumti marked rise at Comilla and at Debiddar, flowing 30cm and 7cm above the danger mark respectively.

Monsoon remains mostly active over the Ganges, Meghna Brahmaputra basins both in and outside of the country and also over the south-eastern hill basin.

Quoting the Indian meteorological department forecast, the FFWC said isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Assam and Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh under the Brahmaputra basin. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura under the Meghna basin and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim under the Ganges basin during next 48 hours.

Bangladesh meteorological Department (BMD) also forecast for moderate rainfall at many places over the country during next 24 hours.

High flood situation prevails in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Shivsagar districts in Indian state of Assam and moderate flood situation in many districts of Assam and Meghalaya. The floodwater will automatically be drained by the Brahmaputra through Bangladesh.

Faizabad of Utar Pradesh and Muzaffarpur of Bihar are experiencing high flood situation and the flood water travelling by the Ganges to Bangladesh.

The mighty Brahmaputra-Jamuna continued rising alarmingly and the rate of rise expected to be slowed down in the next 24-72 hours.

The Ganges-Padma is also in rising trend and the river is likely to rise further in the next 24-72 hours.

North, north-central and south-central parts of the country are in a threat of 2nd spell of flooding by next 24-48 hours.

Flash flood situation in the northern districts is likely to remain static and expected to start improving in the next 24-48 hours as monsoon became relatively week over the area.

The prevailing flood situation in the north-eastern part (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Netrokona and Sherpur) of the country deteriorate further and spread over more areas, the situation is likely to aggravate further in the next 24 hours.

South-eastern districts Comilla, Feni, Noakhali, Chitagonj, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari are experiencing flash flood and the situation may deteriorate slightly in the next 24hours.