lood death toll rises to 42

At least 3,145 people so far contracted various diseases which have spread among the flood-affected areas, according to National Health Crisis Management Centre.
Besides, a total of 42 people, mostly minors, drowned in the affected 233 unions of 14 districts since July 25, said the centre officials.
The centre medical officer, Dr Sakhawat Hossain, told New Age on Monday that they collected information from the officials concerned of the civil surgeon offices in the flood-affected areas.
Flooding continued to expand to the country’s central and southern parts engulfing new areas while water has started to recede in some northern districts.
The severe flooding compounded people’s suffering from shortage of foods, drinking water and scarcity of sanitation and fodders for their cattle in 17 districts across the country.
The affected people were suffering from diarrhea, lung infection, skin diseases, eye conjunctivitis, snake bite, drowning and injuries, said Dr Sakhawat Hossain.
He told New Age on Monday that at least 622 medical teams were working in the affected areas and there were sufficient from short supply of medicines and oral rehydration saline.
Asked about cause of death, the physician said that some 38 people, mostly minors, had drowned and four were killed from snake bites.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Surma-Kushiyara were in falling trend while the Padma is in the rising trend, according to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
Flood situation may improve in low lands adjacent to the Brahmaputra and the Jamuna Rivers in Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Serajganj, Bogra and Dharla rivers in Kurigram in the next 72 hours.
The River Padma may remain steady in the next 24hours, which may cause steady state of flood situation in low lands near Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Sariatpur.
In Shariatpur, over two lakh people were affected by floods at five upazilas of the district. The district administration started distributing rice and dry foods among 700 affected people.
The sanitation system was damaged as most of the toilets were inundated by the floodwater.
There is a huge shortage of drinking water as tube-wells wend under water. There was a crisis of fodders for cattle in the affected areas.
In Sirajganj, about two lakh flood-affected people, who took shelter on high lands at schools and colleges or embankments, were facing shortage of foods and drinking water as well as sanitation problems.
Deputy commissioner Bilal Hossain said that sufficient amount of relief was being distributed in the affected areas.
In Pabna, flood engulfed new areas due to rise in water level in the Padma and the Jamuna. New areas were submerged in last 24 hours.
Nearly 25,000 people have been marooned at Bhangura, Faridpur and Bera upazilas of the district.
The floods forced closure of nearly 30 educational institutions including government primary schools, high schools, madrassahs and colleges, said Faridpur upazila administration.
In Kurigram, floodwater started receding but the overall flood situation has not developed. The flood victims are not returning to their respective houses as water has not yet receded from their homestead.
Kuigram district relief and rehabilitation official said some 1,50,586 families were damaged by the flood water. Of them, 6,495 families were river erosion victims. More than six lakh people have been marooned.
A total of 1275 tonnes of rice and Tk 38 lakh and 2000 packets of dry food have been distributed.
In Jamalpur, though the flood situation in the district has improved a little, 1.5 lakh families of seven upazilas of the district are still remaining affected.
Rail communications on Jamalpur-Dewanganj rail route, which was suspended last Friday afternoon, became normal on Monday afternoon, said Jahurul Islam, station master of Jamalpur railway station.
Rail communications on Jamalpur-Bangabandhu Bridge (east) rail route has remained suspended since Saturday night (9.00pm) as the rail tracks went under water at five points between Jamalpur sadar and Sarishabari upazila, said the station master, adding that rail communications on the route would remain suspended for several more days as the inundated tracks at several points were damaged.
The body of a man, who drowned in the Brahmaputra on Sunday evening, was recovered by divers on Monday morning, said Nasimul Islam, officer-in-charge of sadar police station.
The victim is Helal Miah, 30, son of Magor Ali of Miapara area in the town.
District administration had allocated 800 tonnes of rice and 5,700 packets of dry foods.
‘Of them, 600 tonnes of rice and the dry foods have already been distributed among the flood-hit people,’ said Md Shahabuddin khan, deputy commissioner of Jamalpur, adding, ‘200 tonnes of rice have been kept ready for distribution.’

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net