TDS Desk:

The devastating flash flood caused by the onrush of water from upstream Indian regions and torrential downpours at all the 15 upazilas under Chattogram district, has damaged at least Tk700.63 crore to the agriculture, fisheries and livestock, according to the available data until Wednesday.

Officials concerned hinted that the extent of damage from the natural disaster would be much higher as more information on damages continued to be reported.

Of the Tk700.63 crore, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) assessed the damage at Tk394.15 crore while the Department of Fisheries at Tk290.47 crore and the Department of Livestock at Tk16.01 crore.

Sources in the DAE said the croplands of Aush, Aman, vegetables and others witnessed extensive damages in the 15 upazilas and parts of the city.

The Aman cultivated at some 13,831 hectares of land was damaged completely, causing a financial loss of around Tk251.63 crore, they said.

A total of 161,371 farmers were affected by the flood. Among the upazilas, Fatikchhari was affected worst with an estimated loss of Tk99 crore in this sector.

Besides, Mirsharai upazila witnessed a loss of Tk48 crore and Hathazari upazila Tk22 crore, they said.

DAE Chattogram Additional Deputy Director (Crop) Md Omar Faruk said the extent of damage will increase as some areas remain underwater.

The officials concerned will visit the areas to assess the exact amount of losses, he said.

The damage caused by the flood at Mirsharai and Fatikchhari upazilas is the highest compared to the damages in previous such natural disasters, he said adding that they have sent letters to the ministry concerned for incentive of the affected farmers and efforts are going on to recover the losses with alternative initiatives. Besides, according to available data from the Chattogram District Fisheries Department, 16,864 out of the total 28,000 water bodies, sprawling on 5,541 hector areas, were affected in 162 unions under 15 upazilas in the district in the flood.

A total of 16,595 tonnes of different types of fish, 14 lakh pieces of fish fry and two lakh pieces of post-larva shrimp were swept away by the flood water causing huge losses to the growers.

They estimated a loss of Tk289.67 crore in this segment of fisheries. Moreover, fish fries worth Tk50.80 lakh and prawns worth Tk4 lakh were also damaged in the disaster, said Fish Surveyor Mahbubur Rahman of the department.

Besides, damages of Tk24.70 lakh to infrastructures of this sector increased the total loss to around Tk290.47 crore, he added.

Among the upazilas, Mirsharai witnessed the highest loss of Tk142.10 crore — 8,596 tonnes of fish from 3,700 water bodies.

A total of 4,013 water-bodies in Fatikchhari upazila were affected damaging 1,867 tonnes fishes worth Tk33.78crore while 1,214 tonnes of fish worth Tk23.67 crore of 1,600 water-bodies in Hathazari upazilas, added the surveyor.

On the other hand, 285 farms, including 186 dairy and 99 poultry, were affected by the floodwater.

A total of 904.6 tonnes of different dairy and poultry feeds were also washed away, said sources.

Damages to livestock and other related properties worth around Tk16.01 crore were reported till Wednesday, said the District Livestock Officer Dr Nazrul Islam .

The amount of loss may increase as the situation is yet to become normal in some places, he said, adding that they have sent the information to the ministry concerned for the next course of action.

Mentionable, five people died and 3.75 lakh people of 75,456 families in 11 upazilas in the district were marooned in the flash flood.

Some 143 shelter centres were opened in the upazilas for the affected people while over 100 medical teams worked to provide medication.

Traffic movement on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, which is considered the country’s economic lifeline, remained halted for three days due to the flood water, hampering business activities to a great extent.