Heavy monsoon rain and runoff from surrounding hills have caused severe waterlogging in Cumilla and widespread flooding in Habiganj, disrupting essential services and leaving thousands of people in urgent need of food and relief.
The weather office recorded 138 millimeters of rain in Cumilla over 24 hours, including 107 millimeters between dawn and 9 a.m.
Roads, alleys, homes, businesses and public facilities remained submerged across the city.
Students arriving for Higher Secondary Certificate examinations at Cumilla Government Women’s College encountered knee-deep water. The Cumilla City Corporation arranged boats to transport examinees to their testing halls.
Cumilla General Hospital also remained inundated, causing difficulties for patients, relatives and medical workers. Water had not receded nine hours after the rain stopped, disrupting medical services and the delivery of medicines.
Dharmapur and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation area were among the other badly affected locations. Residents blamed inadequate and unplanned drainage for the prolonged waterlogging.
In Habiganj, runoff from the hills caused two embankments along the Khowai River to collapse Thursday night, flooding about 35 villages.
A major breach in the Kaliganj area of Lashkarpur Union affected about 30 villages. Another breach in Baniachong flooded five villages.
Although water has receded from some homes following a decline in rainfall, three rivers in the region remain above danger levels, according to the Water Development Board.
Many residents said floodwaters destroyed household belongings and left them without dry places or supplies to prepare meals. Families, including those with young children, have been surviving without enough food.
Flood victims said they had received little or no assistance from government agencies or private organizations and appealed for immediate food relief.
District and upazila officials said available supplies were being distributed but acknowledged that reaching communities across the extensive flooded area was taking time.