Flash floods in Bangladesh wash away thousands of homes
August 31st, 2008 - 3:23 pm ICT by IANSDhaka, Aug 31 (DPA) Tropical rain lashed northern Bangladesh Sunday unleashing flash floods which washed away scores of villages, disaster management bureau sources said.The flooding rivers drowned at least six fishermen while five were missing in the rampaging waters.
Five districts in the northern region were stricken by floods which isolated more than 100,000 people in submerged villages.
Bangladeshi engineers have blamed the monsoon deluge on authorities in neighbouring India for allegedly opening the gates of the Teesta dam to ease the pressure of water on a costly irrigation project.
A spokesman for the Flood Forecasting and Monitoring Centre in the capital Dhaka said the released water boosted the levels in at least half a dozen downstream rivers in Bangladesh including the Dharala, Brahmaputra and Teesta.
The six fishermen were killed in northern Gaibandha district when their trawler was smashed in the waves.
Rescuers said the efforts to trace the missing fishermen were hampered by continuing heavy rains.
More than 20,000 people moved to flood shelters over the weekend and an equal number were waiting to be evacuated from water-trapped hamlets, Saiful Islam of the Disaster Management Bureau said.
- Thailand's flood death toll rises to 112 - Sep 19, 2011
- Dhaka, Delhi to exchange Teesta river data - Sep 30, 2011
- Dhaka, Delhi resume talks on river water sharing - Jan 10, 2011
- Dhaka seeks joint management of Brahmaputra with Delhi, Beijing - Mar 23, 2010
- 75 missing as trawler capsizes in Bangladesh - Jul 31, 2011
- Bangladesh, a country that shares 54 rivers with India - Sep 06, 2011
- Not able to conclude Teesta agreement: Mathai - Sep 07, 2011
- 20 die in Bangladesh boat capsize - Apr 21, 2011
- 44 killed in China floods - Jun 10, 2011
- Torrential rain raises flood alarm in Queensland - Jan 10, 2011
- Bihar floods worsen, over 100 villages inundated - Jul 04, 2011
- A Bangladeshi invite for Mamata: Will she go? - Feb 20, 2012
- Teesta water sharing pact hasty: Expert - Sep 06, 2011
- Bangladeshi diplomat confident about Teesta water pact - Dec 16, 2011
- 17 dead in China floods - Jul 23, 2011
Tags: disaster management, flash floods, floods in bangladesh, irrigation project, management bureau, missing fishermen, neighbouring india, northern bangladesh, opening the gates, saiful islam