Floods Devastate India’s Northeast and Bangladesh’s Eastern Region
Floodwaters have left hundreds of thousands stranded in India’s northeast and neighboring Bangladesh’s eastern region, resulting in at least 15 deaths as rescuers face challenges in reaching those in need of assistance, officials and media reports revealed on Thursday.
India’s northeastern Tripura state, which borders Bangladesh, has been hit hard by floods and mudslides, claiming the lives of at least 11 people and displacing thousands since Wednesday.
In neighboring Bangladesh, four individuals lost their lives due to the flooding, as the nations share common rivers along their border.
The situation has prompted India’s Meteorological Department to issue a “red” alert in Tripura, leading to a two-day closure of schools and the opening of over 300 relief camps to accommodate the displaced residents.
Of the 11 casualties in Tripura, seven drowned or were washed away, while four were buried by mudslides.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and focusing on providing relief to those displaced from their homes,” stated Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha.
In Bangladesh, a pregnant woman was reported dead after falling into raging waters in Akhaura, with three other fatalities from drowning and electrocution. The rains and rising waters from upstream Tripura heavily impacted areas in eastern Bangladesh, prompting calls for rescue in districts such as Cumilla, Feni, and Noakhali, where power outages and disrupted communication have added to the chaos.
The Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning center reported increasing water levels in many rivers in the delta nation’s eastern, northeastern, and southeastern regions.
Rescue efforts have commenced in the region, with volunteers struggling to reach affected individuals due to communication challenges caused by power outages. Many locals are requesting urgent assistance, including Sonia Akter, who appealed for help from the rooftop where she was stranded with her family.
While both neighbors grapple with the crisis, some Bangladeshis have blamed India for the flash floods, alleging that India’s release of water from a dam in Tripura caused sudden flooding in Bangladesh. India’s Ministry of External Affairs refuted these claims in a statement.
Monsoon rains in South Asian nations typically begin in June, with India and Bangladesh sharing 54 common rivers that traverse from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Contentions over the sharing of river waters persist between the two countries.
Associated Press writer Wasbir Hussain contributed to this report from Guwahati, India.
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