BANGLADESH: Flooding in Bangladesh forces many people to flee their homes

Flooding in Bangladesh forces many people to evacuate their homes for the second time this year. Large areas of Bangladesh were again under water on Tuesday (September 11) after heavy rainfall that pounded the country since last weekend. This has added to the misery of millions and has killed more than 830 people since late July. Weather officials said that nearly 20 of the country's 64 districts were flooded after three days of rain swelled up major rivers flowing through India into Bangladesh. Many people had headed to highways and embankments for safety, while others had taken refuge on boats of on the roofs of houses. The floods covered vast areas in the country's northeast and southern areas, disrupting communications and, more areas were expected to be engulfed. "Beside me is my home and the water is up to my knee. We can't move. All the fishes in our pond swam off in the flood water. It is unbelievable that so much water is in this town," said Mahmuda Begum, a resident of Gaibandha. Thousands of Bangladeshi families that returned to devastated homes after the previous flood had receded in most areas were forced to flee again, disaster management officials said. Floods kill hundreds of people and wreck the lives of many more in Bangladesh every year, but this year's deluge has been the worst since 2004 when floods killed more than 3,000 people. The meteorological department forecast heavy to very heavy rain in various parts of the country over the next 24-48 hours.

ITN Source | September 12, 2007

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