Severe flooding has led to a death toll of 30 in India’s northeast and eastern Bangladesh over the past week. In Bangladesh, the rain has subsided in many areas, and some waters are receding, but the threat of flooding persists for days to come. Similarly, in India’s Tripura state, the death toll has risen to 19 as eight more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to state disaster management officials.
In Bangladesh, seven additional deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 30 in the region. Reports indicate that up to 3 million people are stranded due to the fast-moving water that has engulfed farmland, homes, and livelihoods, with many lacking basic necessities like electricity, food, and water. Charity groups have activated relief efforts, with a student group in the capital collecting supplies at Dhaka University.
In Tripura, around 100,000 people have sought refuge in over 400 relief camps, with Chief Minister Manik Saha conducting an aerial survey to assess the situation in the flooded districts. Liakath Ali, BRAC’s director of Climate Change, Urban Development and Disaster Risk Management, stated that these floods mark the worst the country has faced in three decades, emphasizing the devastation caused to villages and families.
New breaches in a flood protection embankment on the Gomti River have resulted in the inundation of approximately 100 villages in Cumilla district. Moreover, districts like Noakhali, Feni, and Chattogram have been severely impacted by the flooding. Efforts to rescue affected individuals have been challenging, with volunteers warning residents to seek safety at shelters and the military utilizing helicopters to distribute relief materials.
Rumors circulating online in Bangladesh have linked the flooding to India opening the Dumbur dam in Tripura, sparking anti-India protests. However, India’s External Affairs Ministry refuted the claims, attributing the floods to heavy rainfall affecting both countries over a wide area. The situation remains critical, with both nations grappling with the aftermath of the devastating floods.
