Floodwaters engulf hospitals, force patients out in Cumilla

Heavy downpours and hill runoffs from upstream have inundated several areas of Cumilla’s Chauddagram Upazila.

According to the Upazila administration, over 50,000 people have been marooned due to the floods.

Floodwaters have submerged the roads, making its way into the Upazila Health Complex, government offices, offices and people’s homes.

Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, the chief executive officer of Chauddagram,told bdnews24.com: “Due to the incessant rainfall and onrush of water from India, the entire Upazila has been flooded. Over 50,000 people have been stranded due to the flooding in the last three days.”

According to the locals, at least 13 unions of Chauddagram Upazila, including the municipality,have been deluged due to the continuous downpour and onrush of upstream water from India. More than 50,000 people are struggling due to a lack of drinking water and riverbank erosion of the Kakri River.

Residents are suffering as the floodwater has made its way into the Upazila Health Complex.

Admitted patients are being discharged from the hospital as there are no doctors in the emergency and outpatient units.

Many are also trapped inside the hospital building due to chest-deep waters in the front yard of the hospital.

Some also left the hospital premises by finding alternative means of transportation.

Chauddagram Upazila Health Officer Dr Golam Kibria said: “Chest-deep waters have made its way into the health complex. This is why the emergency and outpatient health care units have been stopped.”

“The doctors are also trapped as the floodwater has entered the hospital’s residential quarters. As a result, all the admitted patients have been discharged.”

Civic services have also been halted as the floodwater has deluged the Upazila Parishad premises. Businessmen have incurred a loss of millions as the floodwater has washed away several ponds and fisheries projects.

The submerged roads have blocked transportation disrupting the movement of the locals. Several poultry farms have also been washed away due to severe flooding in the area.

Mizanur Rahman Titu, the owner of a poultry farm in Chauddagram Municipal area, told bdnews24.com: “The floodwater has made its way into two of my poultry farms. Layer chickens worth around Tk 6 million are dead. Many chickens have also been washed away by the water. I don’t know how I will ever recover from this loss.”

Md Khorshed Alam, the owner of a fish farm, said: “Nearly Tk 5 million worth of fish have been swept away from two of my lakes and three ponds. I could never have imagined that a few days of rain and water from India would create this situation.”

“There are many more fishmongers like me in the Upazila who have lost their fishes due to the floodwater. All of them are penniless now,” said Khorshed.

According to Goonabati Union Parishad Chairman Mostafa Kamal, all the villages of his union have been inundated due to the floodwater.

“People are stranded because of the flooding. If the rains continue, the situation will worsen,” said Mostofa.

Rahmat Ullah told bdnews24.com: “We are surveying the damage caused by the flooding by talking to the secretaries of the different Union Parishad. Once we have the full count, arrangements will be made to help those in need.”