People and their livestock suffering alike as flood inundates vast area in northern districts Courtesy- Touhid Pervez Biplob

Flood-affected people have been suffering from a lack of dry food and drinking water
 

The overall flood situation in Tangail, Kurigram and Jamalpur has improved slightly as the water level in many major rivers has been decreasing slowly.

The Water Development Board offices in the districts said the Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Dharla and the connecting rivers were mostly flowing above the danger level on Monday but showed a declining trend in some areas.

Meanwhile, flood-affected people have been suffering from a lack of dry food and drinking water. Road communications have been disrupted badly in the three districts.

In Jamapur, the Jamuna River was flowing 10 cm above the danger mark at Bahadurabad Ghat point in Dewanganj upazila.

Abdul Mannan, Gauge Reader at Jamalpur Water Development Board, confirmed the matter.

Around 350,000 people who had taken shelter earlier began returning to their homes with the slow recession of the  floodwaters.

The flood-hit people are in need of dry food and drinking water. Large portions of roads have been damaged heavily.

Floodwaters have completely damaged at least 113km of roads and partially damaged 3 km of river embankments, according to the Relief and Rehabilitation Office.

Around 13,000 hectares of cropland, including paddy and vegetables, in the district have gone under water, said Aminul Islam, deputy director of the department of agriculture extension.

 In Tangail, around 129,000 people are still stranded in floodwaters while 3686 hectares of crop land remain underwater as the Jamuna, Dhaleswari and Jhinai rivers are still flowing above danger level.

Floodwaters have fully damaged at least 50km of roads and partially damaged 1064 houses, according to the Relief and Rehabilitation Office.

Regarding the situation, Tangail Water Development Board Sub-Assistant Engineer Rezaul Karim said: "The water level in many rivers in the districts has decreased, but the water level in the Jamuna, Dhaleswari and Jhinai rivers is still flowing above danger level.

In Kurigram, the water level in the Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers at Chilmari and Nunkhwa point has decreased while the water level in some points remains above danger level.

A large number of local residents, still stranded in floodwaters, have been suffering from lack of food and safe drinking water.

A lack of dry space and fodder for livestock has forced several flood victims to sell off their livestock, namely cows and goats, only to make ends meet.

Besides, many schools and colleges are still inundated in floodwaters, while paved and unpaved roads and a vast tract of crop land have been badly damaged.

Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ariful  Islam said: "Although the water level has decreased for now, it could increase after July 9  . Many low-lying areas could go under water again in mid July."

Our Correspondents Biswajit Deb, Jamalpur, Abdullah Al Numan, Tangail and Ariful Islam, Kurigram contributed to this report