New Delhi/Cumilla, Bangladesh, Sept 05 (Alliance News): Rescue operations are underway in Bangladesh and northeast India following severe flooding triggered by heavy rains, which have claimed at least 36 lives and displaced millions.
The catastrophic floods have inundated vast areas, with rivers on both sides of the Bangladesh-India border reaching critical levels.
In Bangladesh, nearly 4.5 million people have been impacted by the flooding. The Disaster Management Ministry reports that at least 13 people have died, and nearly 200,000 have been evacuated from the affected regions.
Residents in flood-stricken areas are forced to seek refuge on rooftops, with efforts led by army and navy personnel, along with volunteers, to provide assistance and evacuate those stranded.
In Tripura, a northeastern state in India bordering Bangladesh, at least 23 people have lost their lives due to the floods.
Over 64,000 people are currently taking shelter in relief camps. Heavy rainfall, reaching up to 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) in recent days, has exacerbated the situation, leading to dangerous floodwaters and mudslides.
The Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reports that 13 rivers in the region have surpassed “danger levels.” In Feni district, a city in southeast Bangladesh, rescue efforts are in full swing with makeshift shelters set up in government buildings and schools. More than 25,000 people are being sheltered in relief camps, but officials warn that return to normalcy might take time as water levels remain high.
Local resident Kazi Piash, who is sheltering with his family on a rooftop, describes the dire situation: “We’ve constructed a makeshift tent on the roof with tarpaulin but there’s about 40 of us on the roofs of two one-story homes.” The ongoing rain has compounded the crisis, leaving residents desperate for relief.
In Cumilla, Bangladesh, the collapse of a flood protection embankment along the Gomati River has intensified the emergency. Navy officer Lt Cdr M Anwar Hossain reported difficulties in coordinating rescue efforts due to poor phone network coverage.
Meanwhile, residents near the Gomati River express fears that their community may soon be submerged as the water level rises dangerously close to flood defenses.
Blame for the floods has been directed at India by some local residents, given the river systems originating in India that flow through Bangladesh.
As the crisis unfolds, international aid and coordinated efforts are crucial in addressing the needs of those affected and mitigating further damage.
