Flash floods ravage Bangladesh

-7 dead, 3 millions stranded amid torrential rains

-Floods impact eight districts
-Rail, road transport disrupted

Special Correspondent: Bangladesh is grappling with the aftermath of severe flash floods that have claimed at least seven lives and left two people missing. The disaster has affected 357 unions across eight districts, leaving around 3 million people stranded in floodwaters as torrential rains continue to wreak havoc.
Lives lost across districts
The flash floods have devastated several districts, with Cumilla, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, and Brahmanbaria among the worst-hit areas. In Cumilla, four lives were lost between Monday and Wednesday in Nangalkot, Chauddagram, and Sadarupazilas. The victims include Keramat Ali, 45, a resident of Daudpur in Nangalkot, who was washed away by floodwaters while fishing on Wednesday night. After an extensive search by local residents, his body was found floating in the water and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Another tragic incident in Cumilla saw Rafi, a 15-year-old boy, electrocuted after coming into contact with an electric pole amid the rain.
Cumilla General Hospital confirmed his death. Shahadat Hossain, 34, also lost his life when a tree fell on him while fishing in floodwaters. Soharab Hossain, a lawyer, was electrocuted on Monday afternoon when he accidentally touched a submerged electric wire at Salahuddin intersection while returning home from a diagnostic center where he had accompanied his pregnant wife.
In Cox’s Bazar’s Ramuupazila, three people are feared dead after being swept away by floodwaters. Local Union Parishad Chairman reported that one body has been recovered, while two people remain missing. The relentless rain continues to raise fears of further casualties.
Meanwhile, one person in Feni and another in Brahmanbaria succumbed to the relentless flooding as the heavy rains persisted. Both districts have reported significant damage to property and infrastructure.
Chattogram bears the brunt
Chattogram city has also been severely impacted by the continuous downpours, with several neighborhoods completely submerged. The Chattogram Met Office recorded 158.89 mm of rainfall by 3 pm yesterday, raising concerns about potential landslides in hilly areas. Waterlogging has occurred in various parts of the city, making roads impassable and causing major disruptions to daily life. Areas such as Muradpur, Mohammadpur, Shulakbahar, and Zakir Hossain Road, along with others, have been particularly affected.
The situation has forced the closure of many roads, as vehicles struggle to navigate the flooded streets. Waterlogged railway lines in different parts of Feni and Cumilla have also brought train services to a halt. Rail communication between Chattogram and Dhaka has been suspended since Thursday afternoon, as floodwaters covered large sections of the tracks in Feni, making it impossible for trains to continue their journeys. Chattogram’s Divisional Railway Manager, SaifulAlam, confirmed that all inter-city trains from Chattogram to various districts have been canceled.
Fatikchhariupazila in Chattogram has seen its flood situation worsen significantly, as torrential rain combined with water surges from the hills have inundated more areas in the past 24 hours. The Chattogram Met Office recorded 142 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, further aggravating the situation.
Flood devastation across districts
The ongoing floods have disrupted life across vast areas of Bangladesh, with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief reporting that 357 unions in eight districts have been affected. According to KM Ali Reza, additional secretary of the ministry, more than 440,000 families have been left stranded in floodwater, as homes, roads, and infrastructure remain submerged. The flood situation in Khagrachhari has also deteriorated, with ongoing heavy rainfall and runoff from the hills inundating towns, villages, and roads. The Khagrachhari Weather Observation Center recorded 152 millimeters of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 6:00 am yesterday.
The situation remains dire, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in temporary shelters. The flooding has also caused severe damage to agriculture, with vast stretches of cropland submerged. Relief efforts are underway, but the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local authorities, as they struggle to provide aid to those in need.
India refutes flood claims
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refuted claims that the floods in eastern Bangladesh were caused by the release of water from an Indian dam. Concerns had been raised in Bangladesh that the current flood situation in the border districts was due to the opening of the Dumbur dam on the Gumti River in Tripura. However, the MEA clarified in a statement that this was not the case.
“We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current flood situation in districts on the eastern borders has been caused by the opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti river in Tripura. This is factually not correct,” the statement said.
Outlook and concerns
As the rain continues to pour, concerns over the possibility of further flooding and landslides remain high. The Department of Meteorology has reported that the low-pressure system currently situated over central Bangladesh and the North Bay of Bengal is responsible for the deep convective clouds and continued rainfall. With no immediate respite in sight, the authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
The situation remains fluid as rescue and relief operations continue across the affected regions. The government has promised to provide all possible assistance to the flood victims, but with more rain forecasted, the scale of the disaster could yet worsen.