The flood situation in Bilaichhari and Baghaichhari upazilas of Rangamati has improved somewhat. As rainfall eased on 11 July, the water level and current of the Raikhyong river in Bilaichhari fell a little, and water has slowly started to drain from flood-hit areas.

With the water falling, Farua Bazar and other submerged areas have begun to reappear. In Baghaichhari, water has receded from wide areas that had been marooned, life is returning to normal and people have started going home from shelters.

Baghaichhari upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Amena Marjan told Jagonews24 that the water had started to fall and life was returning to normal in many affected areas. At present 1,445 flood-hit people are staying in shelters, she said.

Earlier on Saturday, the strong current in the Raikhyong made it impossible for the upazila administration to take relief directly to Farua union. However, the district and upazila administrations gathered food locally and distributed relief to 100 flood-hit families in Farua union. The relief included rice, lentils, cooking oil, salt and other essential food items.

Bilaichhari UNO Zakir Hossain said that as the current had eased, the upazila administration, together with local political leaders, had already delivered relief to Farua union. The flood situation has started to improve, and if there is no more rain the water will soon drain from low-lying areas, he said.

He added that as of Saturday night, about 50 people had taken refuge in Farua union's only shelter, and the upazila administration had arranged their dinner.

On Saturday, hill runoff and the strong current in the Raikhyong had virtually cut Farua union off by water. Its residents suffered most, and direct relief work was disrupted. With the river and its current now falling, the administration hopes that relief and humanitarian aid can be delivered regularly to flood-hit areas from now on.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.