1 month ago
Authorities in Bangladesh are on their toes as at least 59 people have died in the floods that have affected lakhs in 11 districts of the country, officials said on Saturday.
Bangladesh's disaster management body said 23 deaths alone were reported in Feni district, while Cumilla district saw 14 casualties. Both these districts are adjoining India's northeastern state of Tripura.
"As many as 54.57 lakh people have been affected by the flood in 504 unions and municipalities across the 11 districts. About 70 lakh families remained stranded in the floods currently, while nearly 40 lakh people were staying at 3,928 shelter centres," local media reported, quoting Disaster Management and Relief Ministry officials.
Authorities further said that as floodwaters receded slowly, many people remained stranded and were in dire need of food, clean water and medicine, especially in heavily affected areas where roads were blocked, hindering rescue and relief operations.
A disaster management ministry official expressed deep apprehensions that as floodwaters receded, there was a risk of an epidemic, saying that a waterborne disease outbreak was likely if clean water was not immediately made available.
"Our top priority is to ensure the availability of safe drinking water," the official said.
"There is water everywhere, but there is no clean water to drink. People are falling sick," said Farid Ahmed, a resident of one of the worst-hit districts, Lakshmipur, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Meanwhile, agriculture ministry officials said swathes of land were submerged, posing a significant threat to crops.
Monsoon rain has caused extensive damage in Bangladesh for about two weeks, resulting in deaths, destruction, evacuations and loss of property. As a result, the country's interim government is faced with an uphill task to restore normalcy amid adverse weather conditions.
Clubbed with torrential rainfall, overflowing rivers, El Nino and climate change were the factors responsible for widespread flooding in Bangladesh, weather experts said.
INDIA RESPONSIBLE FOR BANGLADESH FLOODS?
On Friday, India slammed a US media report that claimed that it was Bangladesh who was responsible for the floods.
The report claimed that dozens of people in Feni, bordering Tripura, had blamed New Delhi for releasing water from the Dumbur dam in the northeastern state with no warning.
India vehemently rejected the report as "misleading" and "factually incorrect".
(with inputs from agencies)
Published On:
Aug 31, 2024
