United News of Bangladesh

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Saturday (November 29) and appealed for international assistance as the death toll from heavy rains and flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 132, with a further 176 people reported missing. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invoked emergency laws, granting him wide powers to respond to the devastation following a week of torrential rain across the island. “We have 132 confirmed dead and another 176 missing,” DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda said, adding that relief efforts had been strengthened with the deployment of the army, navy and air force. Nearly 78,000 people have been displaced and are in temporary shelters, the South Asian country's disaster management center said. Read more: Over 20 killed, 14 missing as intense rainfall sparks landslides and flooding in Sri Lanka The death toll is expected to rise. Social media posts on Saturday showed several areas affected by overnight mudslides that authorities have yet to reach. Sri Lanka has been battered by severe weather since last week. Conditions worsened Thursday, with heavy downpours that flooded homes, fields and roads and triggered landslides mainly in the tea-growing central hill country. The government closed schools and offices and postponed examinations. Most reservoirs and rivers have overflowed, blocking roads. Authorities stopped passenger trains and closed roads in many parts of the country after rocks, mud and trees fell on roads and railway tracks. By Friday, water flowing downstream from severely affected areas began to inundate areas around the capital, Colombo, which experienced comparatively less rainfall. Authorities say that Ditwah, which developed in the seas east of Sri Lanka, is likely to move toward India's southern coast by Sunday. Read more: Sri Lanka shuts schools, offices as floods and landslides kill 56 Neighboring India dispatched two search and rescue teams, comprising 80 rescuers, and sent aid to support ongoing operations, the country's embassy in Colombo said Saturday. With inputs from agencies.

Sri Lanka closed government offices and schools Friday (November 28) as the death toll from widespread floods and landslides climbed to 56, with over 600 homes reported damaged, officials said. The country has been facing severe weather since last week, which intensified Thursday (November 27) with heavy rainfall that submerged homes, farmland, and roads, and triggered landslides nationwide. At least 25 people were killed Thursday in landslides in the central mountainous tea-growing districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, roughly 300 kilometers east of the capital Colombo. In these areas, another 21 people are missing and 14 were injured, according to the government’s disaster management center. Additional fatalities occurred in landslides elsewhere in the country. As conditions worsened, the government ordered all schools and government offices to remain closed Friday. Read more: Over 20 killed, 14 missing as intense rainfall sparks landslides and flooding in Sri Lanka Overflowing rivers and reservoirs have blocked many roads, forcing authorities to suspend passenger train services and close roadways in several regions. Landslides and floodwaters, along with fallen rocks, mud, and trees, disrupted both roads and railway lines. Local television footage showed an air force helicopter rescuing three people stranded on a flooded rooftop Thursday, while the navy and police used boats to evacuate residents. Another video showed a car swept away by floodwaters near the eastern town of Ampara, killing three passengers.

More than 20 people have died and 14 others are missing after days of heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding across Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities have suspended passenger train services and shut down several roads as severe rainfall continues to unleash deadly landslides and floods, officials reported Thursday (November 27). According to the government’s disaster management center, 18 of the confirmed deaths were in the central highland districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, well-known tea plantation areas located about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Colombo. Read more: Over 220 dead as floods and landslides devastate Northwest Pakistan The center also stated that 14 people remained unaccounted for Thursday following landslides in the same region. Since last week—when the country first began experiencing the intense weather—the overall death toll has climbed to 31. Torrential rains over the weekend inundated roads, farmland, and homes, causing widespread disruption. Train services in some mountainous areas were halted after landslides sent rocks, mud, and fallen trees onto rail lines. Local television footage showed crews working to clear the debris. Several roads were also closed because of deep flooding. Roughly 4,000 families have been affected by the severe weather, officials said. Read more: Tidal waters inundate low-lying areas as embankment collapses in Khulna

Vast low-lying areas in Dacope upazila of Khulna have been flooded after a 100-metre stretch of an embankment on the Dhaki River collapsed early Wednesday, allowing tidal waters to rush in and inundate nearby villages, triggering panic among local residents. The embankment breach occurred near Hari Mandir, west of Batbunia Bazar under Ward 7 of Tildanga Union in Polder No. 31, as the Dhaki River devoured the 100-metre section during the night. The collapse caused tidal water to enter surrounding areas, submerging over a hundred homes and vast tracts of farmland. When this correspondent visited the area on Wednesday, local residents were seen moving their houses and belongings to safer places to protect them from further damage. Authorities have yet to plug the breach, and tidal water continues to flow into the locality through the damaged portion of the embankment. 130 metres of Teesta bridge embankment collapses threatening 1700 families

The death toll from relentless monsoon rains in Pakistan continues to rise, with at least 220 people confirmed dead after flash floods and landslides swept away homes in the northwest, officials said Saturday. Rescue teams recovered 63 additional bodies overnight in Buner district, one of the hardest-hit areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency services spokesperson Mohammad Suhail said. Torrential rains and sudden cloudbursts triggered powerful floods on Friday, destroying dozens of homes and leaving many trapped. Since June 2, approximately 541 people have died in rain-related incidents across Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority, which attributed the above-average rainfall to climate change. Efforts to find survivors continued in the worst-affected villages of Pir Baba and Malik Pura. Kashif Qayyum, the deputy commissioner of Buner, said most of Friday’s casualties occurred in these two areas. Residents described the floods as sudden and overwhelming. “We had no warning. The water came so fast, many didn’t even have time to step out of their homes,” said Mohammad Khan, 53, a resident of Pir Baba. At a local government hospital in Buner, Dr. Mohammad Tariq said most of the deceased were already dead upon arrival. “Among the victims were mostly men and children, while many women were away in the hills collecting firewood and grazing livestock,” he noted. The provincial disaster management authority reported that 351 people have died this week alone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan due to weather-related disasters. Meanwhile, across the border in Indian-administered Kashmir, flash floods have also claimed dozens of lives and forced hundreds to flee. Cloudbursts and intense rainfall are becoming increasingly frequent in the Himalayan regions of both Pakistan and India — a phenomenon experts attribute to climate change. Over 200 dead as flash floods hit India, Pakistan Since Thursday, Pakistani rescue teams have evacuated more than 3,500 tourists from flood-stricken areas. Authorities have repeatedly urged people to avoid travel to northern and northwestern regions due to the risk of further landslides and flooding, but many have ignored the warnings. Pakistan is still recovering from the devastating 2022 monsoon season, which left over 1,700 dead and caused an estimated $40 billion in damages.  

Although water levels in the Teesta River have started to recede the suffering of thousands of flood-hit people continues as waterborne diseases spread in Lalmonirhat district . The water level of the Teesta started to drop below the danger mark on Friday morning bringing slight relief but various waterborne diseases are on the rise due to the scarcity of drinking water, further exacerbating the suffering of flood victims. The Water Development Board recorded the Teesta’s water level at 51.92 metres at the Dalia Barrage point in Hatibandha upazila—23 centimeters below the danger mark around 2 pm on Friday. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center, the river began swelling from the night of August 11 due to continuous rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream. Floodwaters submerged large portions of Lalmonirhat Sadar, Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, and Aditmari upazilas and low-lying areas along the riverbanks, leaving nearly 10,000 people stranded. The worst-hit areas are Dahagram in Patgram upazila,  Goddimari, Dowani, Choyani, Saniajan, Singimari, Sindurna, Holdibari and Dowabari in Hatibandha upazila, Bhotmari, Shoilmari and Nohali in Kaliganj upazila, Mahishkhocha, Gobordhan and Bahadurpara in Aditmari upazila and Khuniagachh, Kulaghat, Mogolhat, Rajpur, Borobari and Gokunda unions in Sadar upazila of the district. Over 40,000 stranded in 5 districts as Teesta flows above danger mark Families faced severe hardship as floodwaters entered homes and women were cooking once a day on makeshift stoves inside their houses or on embankments and roads.  Many villagers sheltered their cattle under polythene tents on high grounds. Salma Begum, a resident of Gaddimari village in Hatibandha  upazila said, "The roads have been submerged. There is water from knee to waist in every house in our village. Cooking, eating, living and using the toilet have all become difficult. We couldn't sleep at night. I am in panic with the children, wondering when someone will fall into the water." Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat, Sunil Kumar, said, “ Now the Teesta water levels have dropped below the danger mark but it will take some time for the situation to improve. Residents are being urged to remain alert.” Teesta swells above danger mark again; low-lying areas flooded in Nilphamari As of Friday afternoon (August 15), Teesta’s water was flowing 23 cm below the danger level. "We are monitoring the situation round the clock," he added.  

Vast swathes of countryside along Bangladesh’s all three major river systems – Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna – face the threat of being flooded over the next three days as extremely heavy rain begins in the upstream covering parts of Nepal, Bhutan and India.  Thousands of people in low-lying remote areas along the Padma got stranded in flood water on Tuesday with authorities shutting down over a dozen schools amid the Padma rapidly swelling and India issuing red alert for its states upstream adjacent to Bangladesh. The upstream Indian states and parts of Nepal and Bhutan where extremely heavy rainfall is occurring comprises the world's wettest place and one of the largest mountain ranges. An event of extremely heavy rainfall could unleash devastating flash flood in Bangladesh’s north, northeast and southeast in a matter of worse, which occur almost every year, often multiple times. “Char dwellers are leaving their homes,” said Shahidul Islam, a member of Horiyan Union of Paba upazila in Rajshahi. Water reached Shahidul’s doorstep on Tuesday. People are particularly troubled by the need to relocate their children, elderly family members and livestock. A vast tract of low-lying areas in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia district have been flooded due to the rise in water level of  the Padma River, rendering 40,000 people in Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions stranded. Thirteen government primary schools under the two unions have been shut due to the flood. According to the Pabna Water Hydrology Division, the Padma River is flowing just one centimetre below the danger level at Daulatpur in Kushtia. Some 243 hectares of croplands, including paddy, banana, vegetables, chili and maize, have already been damaged, according to the local agriculture office. Abdul Mannan, Chairman of Chilmari Union Parishad, said, “Water levels are still rising. If this continues, it will start entering people’s homes.”  The Padma River is likely to continue swelling over the next four days, said the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center in its weather bulletin issued on Tuesday afternoon.  The Ganges River is likely to reach its warning level over the next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said. 40,000 people marooned in Kushtia flashflood; 13 schools shut The Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers may cross their danger mark over the next two days, flooding low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram districts. The three rivers constitute the Brahmaputra river system, which is likely to keep swelling over the next three days, reaching warning levels at many points.  Warning level implies a river flowing just 50cm below its danger level at a certain point. The Teesta and Dudhkumar reached their warning levels by 3:00pm on Tuesday. The Mahananda, Upper Atrai, Jamuneswari, Tangon, Punorbhoba, Ghaghat and Karatoa might keep swelling over the next three days, the FFWC said, eventually touching their warning point. The Someswari, Bhugai and Kangsha, rivers in the Meghna basin, on the other hand, might flow at their warning levels over the next three days, the FFWC warning said.    Bangladesh’s three major river systems drain runoff generated over 1.6 million-square-km, only 7.5 per cent of the massive landscape lying inside Bangladesh. The average water amount passing through the three river systems is 1,009,000 million cubic meters during the monsoon season, which officially extends between June and September. Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast a low pressure area to form over the Bay of Bengal by tomorrow, implying an increase in rainfall inside Bangladesh soon. Large areas in Bangladesh covering Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience rain at many places through tomorrow, the BMD said, predicting a fall of 2C in temperature over the period.

Rivers in Bangladesh’s coastal and eastern districts continue to swell as heavy rainfall, triggered by a low-pressure system over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, lashes Chattogram, Khulna, and Barishal divisions. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board’ on Wednesday said the heavy downpour is likely to continue over the next 24 hours from 6 pm with forecasts of moderate to moderately heavy rain in the following two days. Over 35 Feni villages flooded as dams collapse at 17 points The persistent rainfall, triggered by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, disrupted daily life in Dhaka and other parts of the country. According to the Met Office, Dhaka recorded 80 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours till 6pm today, while the highest rainfall during this period was 271 millimetres in another location. In Feni district, water levels in the Muhuri and Selonia rivers have crossed the danger level and the situation is expected to remain stable in the next 24 hours with a possibility of gradual improvement as water levels begin to recede, it said. However, heavy rainfall is likely in the basin over the next 24 hours followed by moderate to moderately heavy rainfall over the subsequent two days. In Chattogram district, the Halda River may rise above the danger level within the next 24 hours, which could trigger floods in low-lying areas along its banks. Water levels in the Feni, Sangu, and Gomti rivers are rising while the Matamuhuri River is currently receding, it said.. Forecasts indicate that the Gomti River may continue to rise in the next 24 hours while water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri may fall. All these rivers are likely to show a declining trend over the following two days. In Sylhet division, water levels in the Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai rivers continue to rise. The rising trend is expected to persist over the next 24 hours. The Ganges and Padma rivers are also witnessing rising trends and are expected to continue rising over the next five days, though they will likely stay below danger levels during this period. In Chattogram, a three-year-old child died after falling into an open drain amid waterlogging caused by continuous rainfall in Halishahar area on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mosammat Humaiyra. Incessant rain floods Khulna city, adjacent areas Kamrul Islam, in-charge of Agrabad Fire Station, said, “On information, our team retrieved the child after about an hour of effort. She died on the way to a hospital,” he said. In Feni, More than 35 villages in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas have been submerged following the collapse of flood control embankments at 17 points along the Muhuri, Kuhua and Silonia rivers.  The damage, caused by incessant heavy rain and surging upstream water from India, has also disrupted power supply in several areas of the district, leaving thousands of residents in the dark. The floodwaters, however, have reportedly started to recede in Feni town, many low-lying areas remain inundated, disrupting daily life.  The Muhuri and Selonia rivers in Feni district are still flowing above danger levels. Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fariha Islam said, “Flood control dams have broken in at least seven places in the upazila. As a result, 14 villages have gone underwater.” More than 150 people took shelter in shelters, dry food and cooked food were arranged for them, she said. Meanwhile, continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days submerged the Feni-Parshuram road, severing direct road communication with Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas. Besides, continuous rainfall for the past few days has left parts of Khulna city, its suburbs and adjacent upazilas near the Sundarbans submerged. Several areas, including Royal Mor, Tutpara, Mistripara, Ahsan Ahmed Road, Boyra, Mujgunni, Sonadanga, and Fulbarigate went under water in the city. Rains entered the houses of the low-lying areas of the city, causing suffering of residents. Fish enclosures, ponds, and croplands were flooded and residents were facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Flood and waterlogging triggered by rains were also reported from Bagerhat, Barguna, Bhola and Madaripur districts.

Continuous rainfall for the past few days has left parts of Khulna city, its suburbs and adjacent upazilas near the Sundarbans submersed. Several areas, including Royal Mor, Tutpara, Mistripara, Ahsan Ahmed Road, Boyra, Mujgunni, Sonadanga, and Fulbarigate  went under water in the city. Rains entered the houses of the low-lying areas of the city, causing suffering of residents.  Fish enclosures, ponds, and croplands were flooded and residents  were facing an acute shortage of drinking water. On the other hand, the situation is worse in Paikgachha and Koyra upazilas as most areas were submerged there following the heavy downpours. Feni’s Muhuri, Selonia rivers still above danger level; floodwaters likely to recede Amid the downpour, the roof of the record room at the Khulna Sadar Sub-Registry Office collapsed on Tuesday, damaging over a hundred official books due to rainwater. The low-income groups are the worst sufferers due to the waterlogging . “There’s little to no passenger movement due to the waterlogging. I’m earning less every day,” said Abdur Razzak, an easy-bike driver. "It’s hard to manage household expenses." Rickshaw puller Roni from Shibbari Goborchaka area  said “Rain or shine, we have to work. But when it rains heavily, even umbrellas can’t help. We charge a bit more when people are soaked, but many don’t pay. Still, we take medicine if we fall sick and go back to work the next day. That’s how life goes,” he said. Locals blamed the poor drainage system for the waterlogging and urged the government to take immediate measures to address the issue. Md Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the Khulna met office, said they recorded 43.6 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours till 12 pm Wednesday, predicting more rainfall in the next 24 hours.  

The water level in the Gomti River has surged sharply due to two days of continuous rainfall and upstream hill runoff, prompting the district administration to issue an emergency alert for riverbanks residents. As of 9am Wednesday, the river’s water level was recorded at 8.30 metres—just three metres below the danger level of 11.30 metres, according to the Water Development Board in Comilla. “The water level in the Gomti River is rising rapidly and it is time to remain vigilant,” said Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman Executive Engineer(Gomti division ) of the Water Development Board in Comilla. Feni’s Muhuri, Selonia rivers still above danger level; floodwaters likely to recede He added that the situation is being closely monitored. In response, the Comilla district administration has urged residents particularly those in low-lying and erosion-prone areas—to stay alert and prepare to move to shelter centres if necessary. Authorities said a joint initiative by the district administration and the Water Development Board has been taken to prepare for any potential flooding.