Diarrhoea spreads in flood-hit Sirajganj

Flood affected Charialtoli village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila. Diseases including diarrhoea are spreading in the affected areas as water has started receding. PHOTO: STAR

Two children died of diarrhoea and another from pneumonia in the last two days. About 200 people have been attacked with the diseases.

The dead were identified as Rahuli Khatun, 4, of Chowhali; Badsha, 2, of Kazipur and Hasna Khatun, 7, of Shahzadpur.

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Of those afflicted with the diseases, 20 are in Sadar upazilla, 25 in Chowhali, 25 in Kazipur, 20 in Raiganj, 20 in Shahzadpur, 25 in Belkuchi, 30 in Tarash, 15 Kamar Kanda and 20 in Ullapara upazila. They have been admitted to different hospitals and health complexes, health officials said.

Diarrhoea is spreading due to lack of drinking water in the affected areas, they said. Besides, saline and other medicines used to cure intestinal diseases are in short supply in the hospitals.

Water Development Board (WDB) sources here said the water level of Jamuna marked slight fall yesterday. They hoped it will recede fast as there is no rain in the area and in the upstream.

Over 1.5 lakh people are still marooned in shoals of the Jamuna, Karotoa and Fhulzhar rivers.

Four boys drowned in the district in the current spate of flooding, the third in the season.

The worst affected areas are Meghai, Shuvogacha, Gandhail, Kuralia and Shimanto Bazar in Kazipur upazila; Rantankandi, Bahuka, Shimla, Khokshabari, Songacha, Bahuli and Ranigram in Sadar upazila; Bhuiganti, Nalka and Dhangara in Raigang upazila; Naogaon, Kachikata, Magura-Bindopur in Challan Beel area in Tarash upazila; Shalanga, Salop, Sreekhola, Mahonpur in Ullapara upazila; Baghabari, Talgachi, Chobila in Shahjadpur upazila; Zoknala, Tamai, Randhunibari, Shahbajpur, Chala in Belkuchi upazila; Betil, Enayetpur, Ghorjan in Chauhali upazila. Areas of Sirajganj, Shahzadpur, Kazipur, Belkuchi and Ullapara pourashava have also reeled under water.

At least 2000 weaving factories have been shut due to the flood. According to district relief and rehabilitation office, at least 8000 houses have been damaged fully or partially by the flood that inundated Aman seedlings on 7,921 hectares of land.

Officials earlier said 43 educational institutions were damaged by the flood.