Flash flood victims try to survive

More than 5 million people stranded in 11 districts across the country are fighting to escape the deadly floods that have already claimed 18 lives.

The flash floods caused by the surge of water from upstream Indian rivers and heavy rainfall in the country’s eastern and southeastern parts have inundated vast areas and damaged numerous houses, croplands, communication infrastructure, educational institutions and other establishments over the last few days.

Floodwater has snapped all kinds of communication in some districts, and heavily disrupted them in many other areas.

Many people have left their homes and livelihoods and run to safe shelters with their families. The people of the remote areas of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur and Cumilla did not even get a chance to escape the rapidly rising water.

Millions of people trapped in those areas were forced to stay in makeshift houses, and on rooftops, boats, highlands, embankments and roads.People stranded in floodwater have been facing a humanitarian disaster due to an acute crisis of food, drinking water, and power supply.Authorities and volunteers could deliver relief materials to people in some flooded areas, while people marooned in many other areas were leading a miserable life as adequate relief material is yet to reach them.

Kamrul Hasan, secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, on Saturday said at least 18 people died and more than 49 lakh people were marooned in the flood.