NIRAPAD is an initiative of Disaster
Management Component of Integrated Flood Security Program of CARE Bangladesh
funded by USAID.
Dhaka, 19 June 2007
RIVERS UNDER 3 MAJOR BASINS ARE ON RISE: Flood situation likely to aggravate further in NE Bangladesh
Current Situation:
Due to heavy downpour in and outside country since the last few days and subsequent embankment failures in some places, thousands of people at several pocket areas of north and north-eastern districts have become flooded.
Some of the flooded pockets (i.e., Dupchachia and Kahalu of Bogra, Choudogram of Comilla and Sonagazi & Parshuram of Feni) are considered as 'so called flood free zones' as people in these areas merely experiences the havoc of floods. Due to living inside the embankment, a false sense of security has been developed in the mind of the people which made them unprepared to cope up the disasters.
The water levels of most of the rivers under three major river basins (Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna) are on rise except of the South-eastern Hill basin. Needless to say, continuation of rising water in the major basins together has only one meaning and that is a severe flood ahead. Media reports alleged that India has opened up all the gates at Gazal Doba which caused swelling the river Teesta, Brahmaputra and their tributaries and inundating the vast areas.
As per FFWC forecast, flash flood situation is likely to aggravate further in north-eastern region.
The main flood hit districts of the country, at this moment, are Sylhet, Sunamganj, Hobiganj, Moulavi Bazar, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Bogra, Sherpur, Gaibandha etc.
The affected people at Dupchachia and Kahalu of Bogra have taken shelter mainly on the embankment and high ground elsewhere. The mud built houses (fully1,085 and partially2330) in this area have been damaged. They are badly in need of shelter, food and other non-food support.