The destructive floods in the Cumilla area, coupled with an influx of Indian runoff, have badly damaged at least 14 Upazilas. The District Relief and Rehabilitation Office estimates that the damage caused by the flooding is close to Tk 33.62 billion.
Over Tk 10.84 billion in losses were suffered by people whose homes were devastated by floodwaters.
The flood victims contend that the real damage done exceeds the government’s assessed value by a significant margin.
In the meantime, a large portion of the district’s Nangalkot, Laksam, Monohargonj, Brahmanpara, and Burichang Upazilas remain under water.
The floodwaters are progressively receding in certain locations. Nonetheless, the region’s general flood status has gotten better over time.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Muhammad Abed Ali reports that, based on data collected thus far from all departments, the floods have caused damage estimated to be worth Tk 33.62.
Burichang was the most severely damaged by the floods out of all 14 Upazilas. It is estimated that Tk 5.56 billion has been lost in this Upazila. Whereas Chauddagram Upazila suffered more than Tk 4.61 billion in damage, Nangalkot Upazila recorded losses of almost Tk 5.28 billion.
Furthermore, losses totalling Tk 3.92 billion were suffered in Laksam, Tk 3.31 billion in Cumilla Sadar, Tk 2.58 billion in Brahmanpara, Tk 2.35 billion in Debidwar, Tk 1.75 billion in Monohargonj, Tk 1.21 billion in Barura, Tk 1.15 billion in Cumilla Sadar South, Tk 710 million in Lalmai, Tk 560 million in Titas, Tk 470 million in Muradnagar, and Tk 90 million in Daudkandi.
According to Abed Ali, 8,674 homes were totally demolished or carried away by the floods.
Burichang was the most severely affected, with around 4,143 homes totally destroyed during the floods.
Furthermore, more than 3,000 homes in the upazilas of Cumilla Sadar, Chauddagram, and Monohargonj were demolished.
Approximately 74,081 dwellings have been damaged throughout all of the Upazilas. Since dwellings have been destroyed, the floodwaters have caused damage totalling Tk 10.84 billion.
Cumilla has been experiencing flooding since August 19. But as time passed, the flooding in the area became more severe overall. The Gomti River dams broke overnight on August 22 in the Burburia region of Burichang. As a result, homes in Burichang and Brahmanpara Upazilas were destroyed by floodwaters.
As most of the area’s roadways were under water, transportation was also hampered. The nearby areas were also affected by the flooding. The floods in Cumilla have caused damage to 23,042 fish farms (ponds, lakes, and fish enclosures), according to the District Fisheries Office.
25,538.50 tonnes of fish, 10.28 tonnes of prawns and almost 100 million small fish werehed away by the floodwater. The floods carried away fish valued at Tk 3.58 billion, prawns valued at over Tk 50 million, and small fish valued at Tk 170 million, based on the current market prices.
The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that severe flooding has seriously harmed sugarcane, vegetables, Aman saplings, and Aush seedbeds.
There are roughly 135,238 hectares of arable land in Cumilla.
Of this, the floods have caused damage to 63,974 hectares. Roughly Tk 8 billion is thought to have been lost overall.
The severe flooding has had a detrimental impact on Cumilla’s livestock situation in addition to damages sustained in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
The District Livestock Office claims that more than Tk 3 billion has been lost overall in this industry. But there could be far more harm done.
According to Belal Hossain, the district fisheries officer, a preliminary list of losses sustained in the fishing industry has been prepared. An estimated Tk 5 billion has been lost. Once the floodwaters subside, it will be possible to determine the precise extent of the damage.
He said, “The damage could be even greater.”
Cumilla’s Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director, Ayub Mahmud, stated: “This year’s flood has caused enormous losses for Cumilla farmers. Agricultural incentives, free fertiliser, seed distribution, help with small loans, free agricultural services, and general support are being offered in an effort to offset this loss.”
According to the district’s livestock officer, Chandan Kumar Poddar, over 4,000 cattle farms have suffered damage.
Thus, there have been approximately 209,000 animals impacted.
Among them, the affected animals include 120,000 cows, 16 buffaloes, 30,000 goats, and 700 sheep. At least 35 cows, three buffaloes, 171 goats, and seven sheep have perished as a result of the floods.
Furthermore impacted are 1,366,000 ducks and chickens from approximately 2,218 farms. The floods have claimed the lives of 2,000 ducks and over a million chickens.
“This is not the complete list. This is only the preliminary list. After the floodwaters subside, the entire extent of the damage will become apparent, according to Poddar.
Deputy Commissioner Khandoker Md Mushfiqur Rahman of Cumilla stated: “The flood victims’ rehabilitation process will continue. We are offering the flood victims every support we can.”
