Dhaka, Aug 22 (EFE).– More than two million people have been affected by flash floods that struck eight districts in eastern Bangladesh, leaving at least two people dead, authorities said on Thursday.
Residents stated that continuous downpours, combined with water flowing in from upstream Indian states, worsened the situation, submerging dozens of villages and rural towns and forcing many to seek shelter.
“Six districts were affected in our division. We have received the news of two deaths in Brahmanbaria and Feni districts,” Tofael Islam, administration head of eastern Chittagong Division, told EFE.
Two additional districts near the Indian border in the northeastern Sylhet Division were also hit, according to Abu Ahmed Siddiqi, head of the Sylhet divisional administration. Some 156,000 people were affected.
Mahbubur Rahman, the deputy commissioner of Noakhali, one of the worst-affected districts, said floodwaters have marooned at least two million people in the area.
“Our stock of dry food is quickly diminishing. We have rice, but there is no place left to cook,” said Rahman.
Desperate calls for help are coming in from affected residents.
“My pregnant sister is stuck in our village home. We cannot communicate with her since her mobile network is completely off now. But she needs to be rescued immediately,” said Sultana Chowdhury, who lives in Feni district, where, according to divisional commissioner Islam, at least 3,50,000 people were affected.
Floodwaters have submerged parts of the main highway between the capital Dhaka and Chittagong, the country’s economic lifeline, severely disrupting road transportation.
“I have not seen a flood of this magnitude in my lifetime, and I am nearly 50,” said Ahsan Habib, a villager from Chauddagram in Comilla district.
“It is true that it has been raining for the last few days. But that could not bring in this much water. I suspect the flood situation worsened due to water coming from India.” EFE
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