7 deaths from diarrhoea in Nilphamari, more areas flooded in Sirajganj

At least four thousand people have been attacked with diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases in the district, according to unofficial sources there.

In Sirajganj, more areas reeled under flood water in the nine upazilas as tributaries of the mighty Jamuna swelled further.

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In Mymansingh, five unions in the Sadar area were inundated as the Old Brahmaputra rose yesterday.

Our Nilphamari correspondent EAM Asaduzzaman reported that five of the seven who died of diarrhoea in the district are children.

The victims were Motion, 3, Moina, 5 and Mahmud Ali in Kisamat Char village in Khagakharibari union; Noor Banu, 29 and Lucky, 7, in Jharsinhessor in Khalisha Chapani union; Lovely, 6 and Babu, 4, in East Chatnai village in East Chatnai union.

The most affected unions are East Chatnai, Tepakharibari, Khalisha Chapani and Jhunaghach Chapani in Dimla Upazila. diseases, unofficial sources said.

The worst affected areas are in Dimla upazila, where the diseases are spreading fast, the sources said.

However, the district flood control room admitted death of three persons while the district health department control room said only one person died of diarrhoea.

The health department control room said 74 diarrhoea patients were treated and 19 others were admitted to different hospitals in the last 24 hours till Tuesday noon. They said 279 were treated in the last seven days.

Talking to this correspondent some people in the affected areas alleged that health workers were not available in times of need though officially 64 medical teams and a mobile team are working there.

Our Correspondent reported from Sirajganj that more areas in nine upazilas were inundated as the Jamuna tributaries Korotoa, Fuljore and Gumani rivers swelled in the last 24 hours.

The Jamuna was steady but flowing 60 cm above the danger mark at 6 AM yesterday, official sources said.

Many telephone exchanges in Sirajganj town have been inundated.

The floodwater washed away about 150 metres of Kazipur-Sirajganj road near Shimanto bazaar and inundated more areas of the road.

Road links have been snapped in many areas in the nine upazilas of the district.

About 470 educational institutions have been closed.

The worst affected upazilas are Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Shahzadpur and Ullapara.

Acute crisis of drinking water is prevailing as about 3700 tube wells have gone under water.

Floods have so far damaged crops on 39,000 hectors of land, 966 km roads, 255 km embankments, and 110 bridges and culverts, official sources said.

Over 4.5 lakh people have been affected in the nine upazilas, district relief officials said.

The government so far sanctioned 150 tonnes of rice and Tk three lakh for the flood victims, of which 116 tonnes of rice and Tk 50,000 have been distributed, they said.

Our Mymensingh correspondent reported that five unions in the Sadar upazila have been inundated by flood as the Old Brahmaputra swelled further yesterday.

The unions are Kustia, Sirta, Boror Char, Khaghdalor and Char Iswardia.

Several hundred people mar-ooned in charlands of the Old Brahmaputra are facing crises of food and drinking water.

The Brahmaputra was flowing 35 cm below the danger level at Mymansingh at noon yesterday, official sources said.