Bangladesh hit by ‘worst floods in 122 years’
More than 100 people have died in flash floods, lightning strikes, and landslides across India and Bangladesh in the past week, according to officials in both countries. Nearly nine million people were marooned in the low-lying areas in the two countries following heavy rains.
Rain hits Assam the hardest
At least 41 people have died while seven were reported missing in Assam alone, according to the state disaster management authority. More than 1,400 relief camps have been set up by the disaster management authority to provide shelter to 230,000 displaced people.
Severe weather hit Northeastern India and northern Bangladesh the hardest, prompting some of the worst floodings in the region in years. Dozens of towns have been cut off by land sliding and floods. The water rose so quickly that the roads and streets were submerged completely within hours.
Lightening killed 17 in Bihar
In the state of Bihar, 17 people were killed by a lightning strike according to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
In another northeastern Indian state, Meghalaya, which also borders Bangladesh to the south, at least 24 people have died in past two weeks, while three are missing, a senior official in the State Disaster Management Authority told media.
The floods have affected over 633,000 people in the state and the state’s Disaster Management Authority is planning to distribute essential commodities in certain districts through airdrops, the official added.
Flooding in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, heavy rains and flash flooding have submerged roads and highways, cutting off entire districts from the rest of the country.
At least two people had died on Sunday due to the flooding, according to the country’s State Minister for the Ministry of Disaster Management, Enamur Rahman. Media reports suggest that the toll is much higher than the reported numbers.
A lack of telecommunication services in the affected areas is making it more difficult to fully assess the severity of the damage, especially in the hard-hit districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj, said the state minister Rahman. Reuters reported 25 deaths in Bangladesh over the weekend.
“The flooding is the worst in 122 years in the Sylhet region,” said Atiqul Haque, Director General of Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management.