We will have to stand beside flood-hit people

Fresh areas in the country are being inundated in the ongoing floods triggered by incessant rain. As per the information provided by the department of disaster management under disaster and relief ministry as of Thursday afternoon, a total of 131 upazilas in 26 districts have been flooded and over 1.86 lakh families in those upazilas have been affected by floods. Over a hundred people have died. Rail communication in northern districts— Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram-- has been snapped as rail tracks in those districts have gone under water.

More than two hundred villages situated on the bank of Jamuna river and its adjacent areas in Bogra are passing their days in great hardship as all of them stranded in water. Flood control dam may go under the river bed any time as cracks have been found at several points of the dam.

Breaking the record of dreadful 1988 flood, the Jamuna river is flowing 152 centimetres above the danger level within seven days due to the hill falls, according to the reports sent by correspondents. Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers are still flowing 67 centimetres and 56 centimetres above the danger level respectively although water level of rivers in Kurigram has somewhat receded. As a result, overall flood situation in the district has remained unchanged.

It is feared that flood may hit mid regions including the capital Dhaka as the water level of Padma river continues to rise. Ferry service on Paturia-Daulatdia river route may see serious disturbance as the river is flowing above the danger level at Daulatdia point in Rajbari. The Padma river is flowing 66 centimetres above the danger level in Daulatdia point. The Padma river is flowing 92 centimetres above the danger level at Goalondo point in Rajbari while 15 centimetres in Bhaggokul point.

Floodwater has submerged several thousands of educational institutions. According to news reports, over 3,000 schools and colleges have been shut due to deteriorating floods. Communication has been snapped in most flood-affected areas. Food crisis is on the rise. Flood victims are rushing to shelter centers leaving their homes. Many of them have taken shelter at rail tracks, embankment and in different educational institutions.

The disaster management department has said that the water has started receding in Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. It will be great news if it happens. Army members have been deployed to help flood victims. The government has kept distributing relief materials among the flood-affected people.  But the supply of the relief materials is lower than the demand. At this time, food and pure drinking water are very essential for flood victims. Urgent relief aid should be extended not only to shelter centres but also to those stranded at their own houses. Sanitation has been a big problem in many places.

Now it is very urgent to stand beside the people seriously affected by the floods with necessary relief materials. During this period, dry foods, oral saline, pure drinking water, soaps and life-saving medicines are very necessary. We will have to adopt quick steps to take these life-saving materials to flood-hit people in order to mitigate their sufferings. Alongside the government, the non-government organisations should come forward to help the affected people.

With floodwater receding, a serious problem is likely to appear as the after effects of flood. The outbreak of diarrhea and various water-borne diseases after the flood may put the lives of flood victims at risk. Keeping it in mind, the authorities concerned will have to take preparation to face the after effects of flood.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 19, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul