The floods have affected around 867,000 people across five districts, forcing more than 37,000 residents to seek shelter at evacuation centres

Staff Reporter:

At least 43 people have died and 39 others have suffered injuries as heavy rains and hill torrents triggered floods in five districts of Chattogram division.

The disaster has affected around 867,000 people, while more than 37,000 residents have taken shelter at evacuation centres across the affected areas.

According to officials, the deaths include 11 people in Chattogram, 23 in Cox’s Bazar, three in Rangamati and six in Bandarban. The injured include 12 people in Chattogram, 24 in Cox’s Bazar, one in Khagrachhari and two in Bandarban.

Chattogram district faced the worst impact, with more than 662,000 people affected. The disaster also affected 158,027 people in Cox’s Bazar, 3,820 in Rangamati, 34,417 in Khagrachhari and 8,350 in Bandarban.

Authorities opened 1,727 shelters across the five districts, where 37,055 people have taken refuge. Chattogram has 670 shelters, Cox’s Bazar 640, Rangamati 47, Khagrachhari 150 and Bandarban 220.

Among those staying at the shelters, 22,600 are in Chattogram, 2,974 in Cox’s Bazar, 3,820 in Rangamati, 2,916 in Khagrachhari and 4,745 in Bandarban.

Authorities have distributed 1,091.6 metric tonnes of rice, Tk91.1 lakh in cash assistance and 34,470 packets of dry food so far. They have also provided cooked meals, baby food, nappies and sanitary napkins in different districts.

Floodwaters have also damaged large areas of cropland. In Chattogram, floods damaged 9,043.5 hectares of aus paddy, 960.66 hectares of aman crops and more than 5,907 hectares of summer vegetables.

In Cox’s Bazar, the disaster damaged 2,620 hectares of aus paddy, 470 hectares of aman seedbeds, 955 hectares of vegetables and 156 hectares of betel leaf gardens.

Rangamati reported damage to 717 hectares of aus paddy, 158 hectares of aman seedbeds, 987 hectares of summer vegetables, 743 hectares of ginger and 648 hectares of turmeric fields. Khagrachhari and Bandarban also reported significant losses to aus paddy, aman seedbeds and vegetable cultivation.