Flood situation has worsened in some parts of the country as water level has started rising afresh in Noakhali, Luxmipur and other areas.
Affected people are passing a tensed time due to an acute crisis of safe drinking water, food items while many are in fear of snake biting.
The flood situation In Noakhali turned worsened due to the rise of water in Feni River, marooning about 21 lakh people.
The same scenario prevails in Luxmipur as new areas are being inundated. Locals of Luxmipur say that the pressure of water continues to rise since morning because of rain.
Noakhali General Hospital medical officer Syed Mahiuddin Abdul Azim told reporters that snake bit some 63 people in last three days while 28 people were bitten in last 24 hours. He also said that some 108 people were admitted due to diarrhoea. Abul Khayer, a resident of Senbagh Upazila, told reporters that new areas, including Senbagh, Begumganj and Sonaimuri are being submerged afresh.
“Although there is no rain in the area for the last two days, the water from upstream entered the areas. Houses and roads went under water,” he said, adding that the locals are facing crisis of safe drinking water.
Noakhali deputy commissioner Dewan Mahbubur Rahman said they received information about shortage of food items.
“We are trying our best to reach food items in those areas. We need more foods,” he said.
Luxmipur Water development Board executive engineer Nahid-uz Zaman Khan told reporters that weather office recorded some 75 millimeter rain last night.
“As a result, new areas, including Luxmipur town, have been submerged,” he said.
Besides, sixteen spillway gates of the Kaptai Hydropower Plant were opened on Sunday morning as the water crossed the danger level due to slopes coming down from the upstream.
Each of the gates have been opened by six feet at 8:10 in the morning for which 9000 cusec water are being released per second to the Karnaphuli River, ATM Abduzzaher, manager of Kaptai Hydropower Plant, told BSS.
The gates were scheduled to open at 10:00pm on Saturday but it was delayed, he added.
He said the water level of Kaptai Lake has been increasing for the last couple of days due to hill slopes coming down from the upstream.
The water level of Kaptai Lake crossed 108 feet mean sea level (MSL) on Saturday night.
As the water level of the lake had reached 108.32 ft of MSL which marked crossing the danger level, 16 gates were opened at six feet height this morning at the advice of the lake management committee.
The highest water holding capacity of the Kaptai Lake is 109ft MSL, said Abduzzaher.
He said that 33000 cusec more water is being released per second to generate electricity in five units of the Kaptai Hydropower Plant.
A total of 220MW of power was generated this (Sunday) morning from the five units, he informed.
Respective officials informed that it is possible to produce 230MW to 240MW of electricity from the five units every day which is distributed to the nation grid.
Though the overall flood situation in Cumilla remained stable, water levels in Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas have increased following the collapse of the Gumti River embankment.
As a result, the sufferings of residents of the two upazilas have aggravated and the lack of boats and ferries has further complicated the delivery of relief supplies to the affected people.
The Gumti River is still flowing 81 centimetres above the danger level. Many flood-hit areas remain inaccessible, making it challenging for relief teams to reach those in need.
Despite efforts by government officials, political parties and various social and cultural organisations to deliver aid, the relief distribution process is facing difficulties for lack of transportation.
Some seven lakh are still stranded by the devastating flood in the district and suffering from the food crisis. Over 50,000 flood victims have taken refuge in 724 shelters across in the whole district.
The district administration has said that despite easing in rainfall, the flood situation remains critical.
