Online Desk  : Millions of people affected by flash floods in the country’s eastern and southeastern parts are passing days in a miserable condition due to acute crises of food, drinking water and shelter. The crisis of drinking water has intensified especially in Feni, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, and Noakhali districts, where people desperately sought drinking water, rather than food, whenever they saw rescue workers or volunteers, said sources. People in the flood-hit areas in general were desperate for relief materials and ran towards any approaching boats or vehicles in hope of getting relief items.

The floodwater has been receding from Feni and Cumilla over the last couple of days, but the situation worsened in the downstream areas, including Noakhali. Kamrul Hasan, secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, on Saturday said at least 23 people died and more than 5.7 million were marooned in the flood.

So far, six people have died due to floods in Cumilla, five in Chattogram and Noakhali each, three in Cox’s Bazar, and one in Feni, Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria and Lakshmipur each, he said. Besides, two people were missing in Moulvibazar. The water level of major rivers in the northeastern, eastern and southeastern regions of the country continues to decrease, he said.

“In the last 24 hours, no significant rainfall was observed in Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Feni districts bordering Tripura and inland basins of Tripura province in India. The water levels in the upstream rivers also continued to recede. As a result, the current flood situation in the downstream areas of Feni and Cumilla districts continues to improve,” said Kamrul at a press conference at the secretariat on Monday.

The disaster management and relief secretary also said so far 4.69 lakh people have taken refuge in 3,834 shelters. Kamrul said currently 645 medical teams are working to provide medical services to the flood victims. The secretary said an adequate amount of food items are being distributed in all the upazilas of Cumilla district through the Bangladesh Army. A total of 20,000 packets of food items were distributed on Monday. Out of this, 8,000 packets were distributed by helicopter. Besides, four medical teams of the Army were deployed in four upazilas of Cumilla district with necessary medicines.

He said a field hospital has been set up to provide health services in Feni, where the doctors of the Army and district civil surgeon’s office were working. Besides, instructions have been given to the concerned deputy commissioners to ensure the necessary healthcare of the flood victims at the local clinics, hospitals and healthcare institutions.

Feni, Cumilla situation expected to improve : “The water level of the rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts has dropped below the danger level. According to the data of meteorological agencies, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall in the northeastern region of the country and adjoining uplands in the next 48 hours. The water level of Manu, Khowai, and Dhalai rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts of northeastern region may decrease during that period,” said Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). “The water level of the Gumti River in Cumilla district may decrease and the flood situation of adjacent low-lying areas may improve. The flood situation in the lower areas of Feni district may improve in the next 24 hours, but may remain stable at some other places,” he said.

“According to the meteorological agencies, there is a possibility of moderate rainfall in the southeast region of the country and adjacent uplands in the next 24 hours. At this time, the water of Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar and Sangu, Matamuhuri, Karnaphuli, Halda and other major rivers in Chattogram district may increase,” said the official.

The water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Surma-Kushiara river systems in the northeastern region are receding, while that of the Ganges-Padma river system is stable. Normal flow of Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern region is prevailing, which may continue for the next 48 hours,” he said.

Worsening of flood feared in Noakhali : Noakhali people fear worsening of the flood situation as the sluice gate in Muchhapur area of Companiganj got damaged. As many as 23 vent regulators of Muchhapur closure in Companiganj, Noakhali broke down due to heavy rains and upstream flows, said Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Dewan Mahbubur Rahman. This has spread panic in Noakhali’s Companiganj, Kabirhat and Feni’s Sonagazi and Daganbhuiyan areas, said sources. Currently, floodwater recedes during low tide, but water can enter the locality during high tide. An engineering team of the Army is looking after the matter, they added.

Munshi Amir Faisal, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in Noakhali, told the media, “A huge volume of water came down through the 23 gates of the regulator. If the gates had not been opened earlier, they would break down. We have reported the matter to the higher authorities.”

Train services resume on Dhaka-Chattogram route : Meanwhile, train services on the Dhaka-Chattogram route had been suspended due to flooding. However, Bangladesh Railway has announced that services on this route resumed as of Monday. In addition, due to the improved flood situation, train operations on the Dhaka-Sylhet route also resumed from 24 August, said Md Nahid Hasan Khan, director (public relations) of Bangladesh Railway. Bangladesh Railway has also announced that the temporarily suspended Parabat Express train on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route will resume regular operations from Wednesday.