Persistent rain sees another 25 villages flooded in Mymensingh

Persistent rain has caused the flooding situation in Mymensingh’s Haluaghat, Dhobaura, and Phulpur Upazilas to worsen. Another 25 villages have been inundated and some 200,000 people are trapped by the water.

Rain from dawn to 8 am on Tuesday caused the water levels of the Kangsa and Netai rivers to rise slightly, according to Md Sanowar Hossain, the Mymensingh district relief and disaster management official.

A total of Tk 700,000 in cash and 63 tonnes of rice have been allocated for the three Upazilas, he said. Different political and volunteer organisations are also assisting in relief efforts, he said.

The water may recede if the rain eases.

Sanowar said that the primary and secondary schools in the Upazilas have been declared shelters for flood victims.

Several hundred people, including women and children, have taken refuge at these shelters. The shelters have arrangements for dry food and clean water.

The water has entered several houses under the Ashrayan Project under the Aylatoli area of Dhobaura Upazila on the banks of the Kangsa River.

Amena Begum, one resident of the housing project said:

“Water has surrounded the Ashrayan Project houses for a week. We are suffering greatly alongside our children. On Monday, only one organisation came to us with some food. But the local administration has yet to check up on us.”

Another resident, Sahab Uddin, said that water had gotten inside some of the houses on Tuesday morning as the flooding worsened.

He said that, as the houses are located next to the river, they always worry about when their homes will be flooded.

Minti Rani Pal, another Ashrayan Project resident, said: “The flooding has dampened the joy of the puja. We aren’t even getting two meals a day, how can we celebrate puja? At least if the government was helping us, my children and I could get by.”

Nishat Sharmin, Dhobaura Upazila executive officer, said that the water levels had risen on the fifth day of the flooding due to rain in the morning. Several new areas had been flooded, she said. The situation will normalise if there is no rain, she said.

Flood victims are being provided with food and medicine, she said.

ABM Ariful Islam, executive officer of Phulpur Upazila, said that nine unions in the Upazila, including Balia, were newly flooded due to several hours of rain in the morning. Sixteen more villages have been flooded, he said.

Several shelters have been opened to provide support to flood victims, he said.

Ershadul Ahmed, executive officer of Haluaghat Upazila, said that mountain runoff and persistent rain had led to flooding in Haluaghat. The upstream water flow is easing, but the low-lying areas are flooded. Some 18,000 families are affected by the flood.

He said that, in addition to the temporary assistance for flood victims, an application will be sent to the relevant ministry seeking their overall assistance after the damage from the flooding is assessed.