Bangladesh: Flood situation grim, over 6 million people affected

• Integrity Education, Delhi
• 19, Jun 2022

Flood situation in the north and north eastern parts  of Bangladesh worsened following heavy rains. More than 6 million people in 64 upazilas in 10 districts have been affected by the floods as water flowed above the danger mark at most of the places in two of the country’s four river basins. 

Official reports said that all the upazilas and half of Sylhet city, and all upazilas and municipalities of Sunamganj district are affected due to floods. The Sylhet-Sunamganj highway and the Sylhet-Bholaganj highway are already submerged.

The rail, road and air connectivity to Sylhet has been snapped due to floods. Power supply and internet connectivity has also been affected causing severe difficulties to people. The operations of the hospital in Sylhet and other essential services have been badly affected. 

The local administration with the help of army, navy and the coast-guard has evacuated over 90,000 people to safe locations from Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, said the State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman, in Dhaka on Saturday. 

The local administration is continuing with the relief and rescue operations despite a severe shortage of boats to rescue the marooned people. The minister said that floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj are the worst in over a century.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the government of Bangladesh in its latest bulletin on Saturday said that all major rivers in the country except the Surma are rising. It warned of further deterioration of flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona districts in the next 24 hours.

Source: News on Air