News desk: Total 15 people died and 48 lakh people have been affected as the ongoing flood hit 11 districts. Among the 15 people, four died in Cumilla, one in Feni, four in Chattogram, one in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three in Cox’s Bazar districts.
Disaster Management and Relief Ministry’s Assistant Secretary Md Hasan Ali confirmed the information to BSS.
Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar districts have been affected by the ongoing flood since August 20.
Earlier in a press conference at the secretariat, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md Kamrul Hasan said 8,87,629 families have been stranded in the flood while 1,88, 739 people have sought refuge at shelter centres.
TK 3,52,00,000 (cash), 20,150 metric tons of rice and 15,000 packets of dry foods have been allotted for the victims so far, he said.
Kamrul Hasan said army, navy, coast guard, BGB, fire service and police members as well as students of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement are working on rescue activities in the flood-hit areas.
Around five lakh people were marooned as an embankment in the Gumti river collapsed in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila early today.
Confirming the development, Md Abed Ali, Cumilla district relief officer, said people of different villages in Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas were affected by the flood water.
Superintending Engineer Abdul Latif told our local correspondent that the flood situation has been worsening in the upazilas due to the collapse of the embankment around 12:45am.
Meanwhile, flood-affected people were asked through loudspeakers to take shelter at safer places or shelter centres.
Mahfuz Babu, a local resident of Burichang Mainamati area, said, “I saw flood water entering Burichang with strong current at night.”
Shahida Akter, Burichang upazila nirbahi officer, said there are 35 shelter centres for flood-affected people. “I have already asked rescuers to take water logged people of Sholonol, Bakshimul, and Pirjatrapur areas to take to the safer places.”
No decision yet on releasing water from Kaptai dam
The Kaptai Hydropower Plant authority has not yet made any decision regarding the release of water from Kaptai Lake, according to ATM Abduzzaher, the plant’s manager.
Addressing rumors circulating on social media, Abduzzaher clarified this afternoon that the claims about an imminent release of water from the lake are false.
He explained that Kaptai Lake’s water holding capacity is 109 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level), while the current level, as of 3:00pm Thursday [today], is slightly above 103 feet. This places the water level still five feet below the danger mark.
“We only consider releasing water when the level approaches 108 feet,” he stated, urging people not to believe false information.
Abduzzaher also noted that the water level rises at a rate of 10 to 12 hours per foot. Therefore, there is no immediate risk of releasing water from Kaptai Lake within the next 24 hours.
“If the rainfall continues and the lake’s water level reaches near 108 feet, a decision will be made after consulting with the district administration,” he added.
Furthermore, he assured that any decision regarding the release of water would be announced to the media at least six hours in advance.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days has led to rising water levels in local rivers, including Kaptai Lake.
DGHS issues eight directives for flood-hit areas
The Directorate General of Health Services has issued eight directives for flood-hit areas, including keeping control rooms open round the clock at all offices of civil surgeons and upazila health and family planning officers.
Other directives include forming medical teams and keeping first-aid facilities ready 24/7 for responding to disasters.
Appropriate preparations should be kept at healthcare facilities in flood-hit areas for dealing with possible health risks including diarrhoea, snake-biting and flood-related other diseases.
A massive quality of water purification tablets, oral saline, and anti-venoms should be stored.
Urgent and necessary medical equipment, first aid, and ambulances should be ready.
No physicians, nurses, officers, and employees in flood-hit areas can leave workstations without receiving permission from the divisional director (health).
