The bodies of two brothers, who had gone missing after being swept away by flash floodwaters in Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur, were recovered on Saturday from a submerged paddy field.
Hatem Ali (30) and Alamgir Hossain (18), sons of the late Bashir Uddin from Abhaypur village, were found dead in Kutubakura village, Nanni union.
With these latest casualties, the death toll from the flash flood in the upazila has risen to five over the past two days.
According to Nalitabari Upazila Project Implementation Officer Anwar Hossain Shamim, the brothers had been missing since Friday after being swept away by the strong currents of the Chellakhali River.
Their bodies were discovered by local farmers, Harun and Sirajul Islam, on Saturday afternoon, he said, adding that neighbors and relatives identified the victims before police recovered the bodies from the site.
Three other individuals lost their lives on Friday, October 4, due to the flash floods. They have been identified as Idris Ali (65) from Nayabeel Union, Jahura Khatun (70) from Poragaon Union, and Amija Khatun (45) from Baghber Union.
Nalitabari Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Masud Rana confirmed the fatalities, adding that rescue efforts are ongoing in the flood-affected areas. Evacuations continue as authorities work to relocate residents to safer ground.
While the floodwaters in Jhenaigati upazila have receded somewhat, Nalitabari remains severely affected, with fresh flooding reported in low-lying areas on Saturday, October 5. More than 22,000 people have taken refuge in shelters across the upazila, while thousands more in both Nalitabari and Jhenaigati remain stranded.
The floods have severely disrupted local infrastructure, with roads collapsing in several areas and communication systems cut off. There are reports of shortages in clean water and food for the affected population. The army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have joined rescue operations to assist those in need.
Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Tarafdar Mahmudur Rahman confirmed the death toll and expressed concern over the reluctance of some residents to evacuate, as they are unwilling to leave their possessions, livestock, and poultry behind. This reluctance is contributing to fears of more casualties.
Although the situation in Jhenaigati has improved with no new rainfall, water levels in parts of Nalitabari continued to rise on Saturday.
Rescue operations and relief efforts are ongoing as authorities work to provide necessary aid to those impacted by the disaster.
BDST: 1149 HRS, OCT 06, 2024
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