In the northeastern regions of India and eastern areas of Bangladesh, floodwaters have left hundreds of thousands of individuals stranded. The flooding has resulted in a minimum of 15 fatalities as rescue teams struggle to access those in need of assistance, according to officials and media reports on Thursday.
At least 11 individuals lost their lives and thousands were forced out of their homes due to floods and mudslides in India’s northeastern Tripura state, which borders Bangladesh, with incidents occurring since Wednesday. In Bangladesh, four individuals lost their lives as the common rivers shared by upstream India and downstream Bangladesh caused devastation.
A “red” alert was issued in Tripura by India’s Meteorological Department on Wednesday, leading to the closure of schools for two days as heavy rainfall submerged various regions, including the state’s capital, Agartala. More than 300 relief camps have been set up in Tripura to accommodate the thousands of displaced individuals.
Among the 11 fatalities from intensified rains since Monday, seven drowned or were swept away, while four were buried due to mudslides. Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are focusing on providing relief to those displaced from their homes.”
In Bangladesh, a pregnant woman lost her life after falling into raging waters in Akhaura, as reported by Bengali-language Kal Bela newspaper. Three others died from drowning and electrocution. The rising waters from upstream Tripura state have devastated many regions in eastern Bangladesh, with districts such as Cumilla, Feni, and Noakhali being severely affected.
The Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning center reported that water levels in numerous rivers in the nation’s eastern, northeastern, and southeastern regions were still on the rise. Communication and travel were disrupted in several areas, with power outages and flooded roads severing links between Dhaka and Chattogram.
Rescue efforts have commenced with the involvement of the military and other authorities in the region. Some blamed India for the flash floods in Bangladesh, alleging that India’s opening of a river dam in Tripura led to sudden floods in Bangladesh. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs denied these accusations in a official statement.
Monsoon rains in South Asian nations typically start in June, with India and Bangladesh sharing 54 rivers that flow from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Disputes over water sharing from these common rivers have been ongoing between the two countries.
