The overall flood situation in Jamalpur has improved as the water levels in the rivers of the district have started decreasing.
Rafiqul Islam, executive engineer of Jamalpur Water Development Board, said the water of Jamuna river was flowing 52cm above the danger level at BahadurabadGhat point in Dewanganj upazila at 10:00am on Thursday while 86cm above the danger mark at JagannathganjGhat point in Sarishabari upazila of the district.
As the floodwater spreads over a wide area, many areas have been inundated again. About 300,000 people of 50 unions in Dewanganj, Bakshiganj, Islampur, Melandah, Motherganj and Sarishabari upazilas are still waterlogged. Around 19 community clinics, 259 primary schools and 88 secondary schools have remained closed.
Zakia Sultana, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension, said 8,000 hectares of cropland have been submerged due to floods. Different crops, includingAus, Aman seedbeds, banana, jute, chilli, maize, sesame and vegetables, have gone under floodwater.
District relief and rehabilitation officer Alamgir Hossain said several thousandfamilies have taken shelter in 15 shelter centres. Different local and regional roads have been submerged causing inconvenience to travel. There is an acute shortage of food, fresh water, baby food and cattle fodder in the affected areas. A total of 540 metric tons of rice, Tk 7 lakh in cash and 4,050 packets of dry food have been distributed among the flood victims.
