Over three million people remained marooned while households and animals afloat in the worst flooding in Bangladesh's southeast, prompting the just-installed government to deploy security forces for rescue and relief.
Reports say a record rain and onrush of upstream water from the dams and barrages in the neighbouring Indian states have flooded eight southeastern districts, leaving more than 3.0 million people marooned, and devastating crops and livestock.
Deaths of eight people could be confirmed so far but the toll could be much higher which could be known with the floodwater receding, said insiders.
A flood of such magnitude has not been experienced in living memory, which trapped thousands of families, displaced them into flood shelters.
"Rescue efforts by the Bangladesh Army, other government agencies and volunteer groups are underway, but the sheer scale of the disaster is overwhelming local resources," says an eyewitness account.
Floods have affected Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Brahmanbaria, with 357 unions impacted and nearly 3.0 million people affected until Thursday noon, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).
Feni gives the looks of a veritable human catastrophe. The flood condition was found worst in the district as fifteen unions across six upazilas have been affected by onrush of water from Dumroo dam opened by India as well as heavy rainfall for last few days.
According to sources, Kalshi barrage on the river Muhuri in the Indian part has also been opened, which dealt a double blow.
Over 0.3 million families faced inundation while one person drowned in floodwaters in Feni.
The government is operating 78 shelters where 20,000 people had taken refuge until Thursday noon, said the MoDMR in its Thursday briefing.
Connection between Feni and Dhaka by road has already snapped as water also submerged highways in Chouddagram in Cumilla.
In Cumilla, 124 unions across 12 upazilas have been severely affected by the flood havoc.
A total of 0.8 million have been water-locked while three deaths were reported.
The government has opened 587 shelters, providing refuge to 4,302 people along with 667 cattle, said the ministry.
Floods have impacted 86 unions across 8 upazilas of Noakhali district.
About 0.184 families are water-locked, affecting a population of 1.9 million.
A total of 388 shelters have been opened, housing 36,115 people and 4,714 cattle.
In Chittagong, 38 unions in 3 upazilas are grappling with flood onslaughts. This has trapped 35,750 families, affecting a total of 0.16 million people.
The government has opened 239 shelters, providing refuge to 1,725 people and 62 cattle. In addition, 137 medical teams are operating in the area.
Floods have ravaged Moulvibazar district, too, leaving 22,577 families water-locked and affecting 0.112 million people.
In Khagrachhari hill district, 27 unions across 8 upazilas have been affected by the flood. The disaster has trapped 33,522 families, with a total of 0.11 million people affected.
In Habiganj district, 22 unions across 5 upazilas have been hit by the flood and in Brahmanbaria 8 unions in 2 upazilas of district have been affected.
Tragically, one person has lost life in Brahmanbaria.
The government, however, allocated Tk 18 million and 13,600 tonnes of rice, 12,000 packets of dry-food packets so far.
Sardar Uday Raihan, executive engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, said the flood was caused by seven rivers overflowing due to heavy rainfall starting on August 16, combined with a low from the sea entering Bangladesh on August 18.
"The excessive rain, sea tides heightened by the full moon, and upstream water flow from India's Tripura, caused by the opening of dam gates have worsened the situation, leading to record-breaking water levels in rivers such as Khoai, which reached its highest level in 60 years."
Uday Raihan states that the flood conditions may improve within 48 to 72 hours.
Dr Md Sadekul Alam, deputy director of the Met Office, adds: "Heavy rain upstream contributes significantly to the flooding, and while rain in Bangladesh's southeastern region may ease by Friday, upstream conditions could still see more rain in the coming days."
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has started providing rescue and aid for the flood-affected people.
The anti-discrimination student movement has launched a significant public relief effort aimed at supporting flood-affected people in various districts across the country.
Individuals from all walks of life are contributing according to their means, offering both material aid and cash donations.
On Thursday afternoon, the scene at TSC was one of active participation.
Booths set up near the main gate under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement were collecting donations. Volunteers, including one of the movement's coordinators, Rafia Rehnuma, were busy receiving donations. Some participants brought clothes, while others contributed dry food like biscuits.
Volunteers gathered the relief items and organized them in TSC's indoor sports hall.
Monetary donations were also being collected, with the student volunteers meticulously logging each contribution in a ledger. This transparency has helped build trust in the initiative, encouraging further donations.
The initiative was formally announced by Abu Baker Majumdar, another coordinator of the movement, in a press release on Wednesday.
According to the release, the central delegation of the movement will oversee coordination, ensuring effective rescue and relief operations for those affected by the floods.
All types of communication networks, including road, rail and telecommunications as well as power supply have collapsed in nine flood-hit districts, thereby leaving thousands of people in grave peril.
Traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram highway got disrupted as Chauddagram Sadar upazila in Cumilla remained inundated by floodwaters early Thursday.
Vehicular movement has been restricted, although part of the highway in the affected area is still operational.
The Feni-Parshuram regional road became impassable as submerged with floodwaters.
Traffic on Akhaura-Agartala road was suspended on Wednesday morning after a Bailey bridge over Kalundi canal collapsed.
The rail line from Feni to Fazilpur went under water. After 12 noon on Thursday, the rail service between Chattogram and Cumilla has been suspended following damage to Cumilla rail line.
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