Flood Situation Update
21 August 2024, 4:00 PM (BST)
Situation overview:
Due to a distinct low pressure over Northwest Bay of Bengal and coastal areas of Bangladesh,
deep circulating clouds continued to form in the North Bay of Bengal area. As a result, the
country is experiencing medium to heavy rainfall for a prolonged period since the beginning of
August 2024. As the monsoon is active all over Bangladesh and strong over North Bay, the
continuous rainfall is resulting in flash flood situation in several areas, especially in Feni,
Noakhali, Cumilla, Khagrachari, Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts.
District wise flood situation:
Feni: As of 20 August 2024, continuous
heavy rainfall and onrush of water from
the upstream have inundated extensive
areas in Parshuram, Chagalnaiya and
Fulgazi upazila of Feni district. According
to the Water Development Board, water
level in the Muhuri River is flowing 55cm
above the danger mark. There is no
electricity in most of the upazilas in the
district which is adding sufferings to the
affected people. Flood water has entered
BRAC office in Parshuram and Sonagazi
upazila.
Flood water has submerged the roads in Fulgazi
Unavailability of boats is causing upazila, Feni district (Source: BRAC)
challenges to provide support to the
affected families.
Noakhali: Heavy rainfall submerged homes,
rural roads, and educational institutions
across all 9 upazilas of Noakhali district. The
local weather office reported 174 millimeters
of rain in the last 24 hours, with the downpour
continuing throughout the day. The most
affected upazilas are Kobirhat, Companiganj
and Senbag. BRAC offices in Companiganj
and Begumganj are submerged in flood water.
Regular office works are getting hampered
due to this situation. Flood water has entered into BRAC Office in
Begumganj upazila, Noakhali district (Source:
BRAC)
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Cumilla: Water levels increased by 12-
15 inches in the last 6 hours in Adarsh
Sadar and Burichong upazilas of Cumilla
district, where the embankment at
Burichong is in a fragile state.
Continuous rainfall is reported since 18
August 2024. Six BRAC informal
education centers in Cumilla city are
submerged in flood water. Baganbari
office and Out of School Children
program learning center of BRAC
Education Programme has also been
submerged in this situation.
Continuous rainfall and Gomti river water rising due
to breach of embankment is causing flood in Cumilla
district (Photo source: BRAC)
Khagrachari: Continuous heavy rainfall
from 17 August 2024 has flooded low-
lying areas in Khagrachari district,
including Khagrachari city and the
upazilas of Matiranga and Dighinala,
leaving 400-500 families stranded as
rising water levels in the Chengi, Feni,
and Maini rivers submerged homes.
BRAC office in Merung upazila is
inundated and important documents
have been relocated safely. In
Khagrachari, Matiranga and Heako area,
landslides have rendered some of the
roads impassable. Heavy rains have submerged low-lying areas in
Khagrachari district (Photo source: BRAC)
Chattogram: Several upazilas including
Fatikchhari, Kazirhat, Harwalchhari,
Sannyasi Hat Hathajari, Farhadabad,
Nazirhat, Swabil, Pahartali, Madaripul,
Noapara, Raujan, Nabuhat, Azadi Bazar
in Chattogram district are getting flooded
due to heavy rain since yesterday (20
August 2024).
Moulvibazar: Manu, Khowai, Dhalai and
Sarigowain rivers of Sylhet, Moulvibazar
and Habiganj districts are flowing above
danger level which is causing inundation
in some places of Moulvibazar district.
People are waterlogged due to heavy rainfall induced
flooding in Moulvibazar district (Photo source: BRAC)
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Habiganj: Embankments of Khoai River
and Jalalabad River have been breached
due to heavy rains and downpour from
the upstream in Habiganj district
resulting in flooing of low-lying areas. 18
thousand hectares of Aman paddy land is
submerged due to flooding in the lower
areas of Sadar Upazila. Government and
other NGOs are monitoring the situation.
DDMT and UDMT members are
contacted for regular situation update.
Flood water enters Habiganj district breaching
embankments of major rivers (Photo source: BRAC)
Flood forecast (Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre):
• Major rivers in the northeastern and eastern regions of the country are on a rising trend,
with water levels expected to increase further due to medium to heavy rainfall
forecasted over the next 72 hours.
• This rainfall is likely to impact the Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Moulvibazar, and
Habiganj districts, causing water levels in major rivers to rise at various points during
this period. In the next 24 hours, rivers such as the Manu, Khowai, Dhalai, and
Sarigowain in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts may flow above the danger
level for a short duration.
• Meanwhile, in the southeastern and eastern regions, including the Feni, Halda, Sangu,
Matamuhuri, and Gumti rivers, water levels are expected to remain steady despite the
rainfall. However, the water level at the Parshuram point of the Muhuri River may drop
below the danger level, leading to an improvement in the flood situation in the low-lying
areas of Feni district.
Response decision from BRAC:
Today, BRAC hold an emergency meeting with BRAC District Coordinators of vulnerable
districts and took following decisions:
• Activate the DDMTs & UDMTs in affected districts, hold emergency meetings and take
necessary decision for response with Upazila contingency fund, if needed.
• BDCs and UDMT leads will communicate with respective District and Upazila
administrations for maintaining proper coordination and situation update.
• UDMTs will find out the way of providing support to the affected people at earliest.
• Arrange and provide dry food support to the most vulnerable communities especially,
who are living in government shelters, schools or multi-storied building through
coordination of local administration.
• BDCs will coordinate the DC office specially DRRO to get the updated flood situation
reports.
• As there are boat crisis in the affected areas, DDMTs and UDMTs will explore to hire
the boat from outside of those areas, and provide support, if necessary.
• Coordinate with local administrations prior to initiate any kind of response activities in
the affected areas.
• Conduct a rapid assessment in the affected upazila and districts.
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