Advance preparation essential for tackling floods

After a prolonged heatwave, continuous rainfall has brought relief to urban life, while simultaneously raising the risk of flooding in river and haor regions. This year’s heavy rain has lent new significance to Rabindranath Tagore’s song, “Once again Asharh has come, covering the sky.” Every year, floods occur in the country during this time due to the effects of the monsoon climate. In the Bengal Delta, fed by a thousand rivers at the foothills of the Himalayas, this is an inevitable natural process. In particular, heavy rainfall in Meghalaya and Assam in northeastern India flows down the river paths and causes flooding here. The most affected areas are Feni, Sylhet, and Sunamganj districts.

Already, continuous rainfall over several days and mountain runoff from upstream have caused water levels to rise, leading to the collapse of embankments of the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers at 17 locations in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas of Feni. At least 35 villages have been flooded. In Feni Sadar, Fulgazi, and Parshuram, at least 20,000 people have become waterlogged. Since last night, water has been flowing over the Feni-Parshuram regional road, halting all types of vehicular movement, both large and small. Electricity supply has been cut off in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas.

According to the Meteorological Department, as the monsoon remains active, rainfall may continue for at least another 24 hours. With the sea remaining somewhat rough, ports have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three.

In the past two years, floods disrupted roads, electricity, mobile networks, and internet services in several districts, cutting them off from all communication with the rest of the country. At that time, hundreds of thousands of people left their homes and took shelter in high-rise buildings and relief centres. According to government figures, the month-long floods affected 8 million people in the district, caused the death of 32 individuals, and damaged 90,000 houses. Therefore, in anticipation of severe flooding this year, preparations for flood response, rescue operations, relief, and rehabilitation must be clearly outlined. While the current government has a good reputation for flood management, there is still no alternative to caution.

In the past, we have seen a lack of coordination between the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, various organisations, local administrations, and politicians during flood responses. As a result, despite adequate government supplies of funds, relief, and medicine, delivering essential services to flood victims has faced serious challenges due to poor coordination.

What we need are clear measures to ensure that aid reaches the most severely affected immediately. Relief and medical teams must be adequately supplied and dispatched to shelters, and electricity restored as quickly as possible.

It must be remembered that proper distribution of government relief is essential. In cases of mismanagement, negligence, or irregularities, immediate action must be taken. Waterborne diseases usually break out in flood-affected areas. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure adequate supplies of medicine, water purification tablets, and related necessities.