LAXMIPUR, Aug 31: The flood water is receding slowly in the district while the public suffering is severe.
The flooding started to improve a bit on Friday.
This information was confirmed by the district administration. But the situation was not normal for the people to go back to their homes from shelter centres till Friday.
As there is still upstream water pressure and frequent raining, the water receding is taking place slowly, said Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Nahid Uz-Zaman.
The Meghna River water is flowing below over two metres of the danger mark, he added.
He further said, water receding from Noakhali, Feni, Kachua, and Chandpur is rushing to Laxmipur via Dakatia Bhulua River; after entering several canals including Wafdakhal and Rahmatkhali Khal, the water falls into the Bay of Bengal from Laxmipur via Rahmatkhali and Hazimara regulators; here the pressure of the upstream tide water is higher than that of the water receding pressure; so, the expected water can't recede into the Meghna River.
According to the government accounts, the marooned people are 7.20 lakh in the district, but unofficially their number will be over 12 lakh.
Officially, 1.80 lakh families were affected by the flood in 265 villages and four municipalities in Laxmipur.
So far, cash Tk 20.70 lakh, 789 tonnes of rice, and 29,693 dry food packets were distributed. Four flood deaths were reported.
Due to the lingering flood water receding, snake-bitten patients are increasing; and different water-borne diseases including pneumonia and diarrhoea are increasing.
Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Farooq-e-Azam, Bir Pratik, inspected flooded areas on Friday. He held a view-exchange meeting with upazila officials at the Circuit House auditorium in the evening.
He inquired about affected people and gave assurance of rehabilitation. He also gave assurance on increasing relief materials in phase.
At that time, Deputy Commissioner Suraiya Jahan, In-Charge District Commander Lieutenant Colonel Majedul Haq Reza, Police Superintendent Tareq Bin Rashid, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Arifur Rahman, Civil Surgeon Dr Ahmmed Kabir, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Yunus, and local leaders and activists of BNP and Jammat were present.
