Severe flooding in Feni claims 23 lives

The casualties include 13 men, 5 women, 4 children, and one unidentified individual whose gender could not be determined. Among the deceased, sixteen were identified, while efforts are underway to identitify the remaining victims. 

The Feni District Administration confirmed the information on Saturday (August 31).

The bodies have been recovered from various areas such as two in Parshuram, seven in Fulgazi, six in Sonagazi, two in Daganbhuiyan, three in Chhagalnaiya, and three in Sadar Upazila.

Among the identified victims are Sahab Uddin, 70, from North Dhanikunda of Parshuram; Delwar Hossain, 40, from Madhugram under Mirzanagar union in Parshuram; Shakila Akter, 22, from Noapara village; Kiran, 20, son of Belal from North Karaiya village; Raju, 20, son of Mizanur Rahman from South Shreepur village; Abul Khayer, 50, from Kismat Basura village; Syed Tareq, 32, son of Sirajul Islam from Lakshmipur village; Rojber Nesa, 25, daughter of Nur Islam from Shanirhat village; and Yusuf, 60, son of late Habibullah from East Darbarpur village under Fulgazi upazila.

In Sonagazi upazila, the identified victims include Nayeem Uddin, 28, son of Mabul Haque from Mangal Kandi union; Abir, 3, son of Sheikh Farid from Charaikandi village; and an unidentified man, aged around 38, and woman, aged around 38. Additionally, there were three unidentified bodies too decomposed to determine their gender.

In Daganbhuiyan Upazila, the victims include Nur Mohammad Miraj (8 months), son of Nur Nabi from North Karimpur village, and Jafar Islam, 7, son of Humayun Kabir from Joylaskar area.

In Chhagalnaiya Upazila, the identified victims are Kurfulen Nesa, 75, from North Mandia village, Mohammed Ayub Khan, 60, son of late Ebadullah from Middle Nischinta village, and an unidentified woman, 60.

In Feni Sadar Upazila, the victims include Umme Saima, 9, daughter of Saleh Ahmed Bhuiyan from Terbariya village; an unidentified man, aged around 42; and another unidentified man, aged around 50.

According to the District Administration, the flooding has affected 10 lakh people in Feni. Among them, around 1.5 lakh people have taken refuge in various shelters, while others have sought safety in elevated buildings.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Musammat Shahina Akter said that the exact causes of death have yet to be determined, and further investigation will be conducted.

The first wave of flooding occurred in early July due to continuous heavy rains and water rushing in from India, causing breaches in flood control embankments at over 20 locations along the Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia rivers. Another round of heavy rainfall in early August led to new breaches at 10 more locations, causing renewed flooding in the same areas. The most recent severe flooding hit all of Feni's Upazilas on August 20.