Floods in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is prone to flooding due to being situated on the Ganges delta and the many distributaris flowing into the Bay of bengal.
Coastal flooding, combined with the bursting of river banks is common,
and severely affects the landscape and society of Bangladesh. 80% of
Bangladesh Floodplain and it has an extensive sea coastline,
rendering the nation very much at risk of periodic widespread damage.
Whilst more permanent defences, strengthened with reinforced concrete,
are being built, many embankments are composed purely of soil and turf
and made by local farmers. Flooding normally occurs during the monsoon
season from June to September.
In the 19th century, six major floods were recorded: 1842, 1858, 1871, 1875, 1885 and 1892. Eighteen major floods occurred in the 20th century. Those of 1987, 1988 and 1951 were of catastrophic consequence. More recent floods include 2004 and 2010,2017.
The flood of 1988, which was also of catastrophic consequence, occurred throughout August and September. The waters inundated about 82,000 km2 of land, (about 60% of the area) and its return period was estimated at 50–100 years. Rainfall together with synchronisation of very high flows of all the three major rivers of the country in only three days aggravated the flood. the capital of Bangladesh, was severely affected. The flood lasted 15 to 20 days.
In 1998, over 75% of the total area of the country was flooded, including half of the capital city Dhaka It was similar to the catastrophic flood of 1988 in terms of the extent of the flooding. A combination of heavy rainfall within and outside the country and synchronization of peak flows of the major rivers contributed to the river. 30 million people were made homeless and the death toll reached over a thousand.The flooding caused contamination of crops and animals and unclean water resulted in cholera and typhoid outbreaks. Few hospitals were functional because of damage from the flooding and those that were had too many patients, resulting in everyday injuries becoming fatal due to lack of treatment. 700,000 hectares of crops were destroyed,400 factories were forced to close, and there was a 20% decrease in economic production. Communication within the country also became difficult.
1999 floods although not as serious as the 1998 floods, were still very dangerous and costly. The floods occurred between July and September, causing many deaths, and many people were left homeless. extensive
The 2004 flood was very similar to the 1988 and 1998 floods with two thirds of the country under water.
In early October 2005, dozens of villages were inundated when rain caused the rivers of northwestern Bangladesh to burst their banks.
Floods also occurred in 2015 and 2017.
Rise of water levels in the various rivers in the northern part of
the country due to heavy rainfalls as well as water flow from the
upstream hills in India have led to the inundation of the river basin
areas in the northern parts of Bangladesh.
After the devastating flood of July, second time monsoon flood started on 12 August affecting 31 districts named Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, , GaibandhaBogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Rangamati, Brahmanbaria, Faridpur, Rajbari, Jessore, Mymensingh, Tangail, Sylhet, Sherpur, Dhaka, Moulvibazar, Naogaon, Comilla, Rangpur, Manikganj, Madaripur, Joypurhat, Shariatpur and Natore.
It disrupted people’s normal life. 1200 union of 183 upazilas under 31 districts are affected and 8746 villages affected.
Total 238843 people full and 6536509 people partially affected, 50042 households fully and 1305257 households partially affected, 71628 houses fully and 548175 houses partially damaged. Total 121 people died. 15529 hectare fully and 562594 hectare partially agricultural land inundated, 34 fully and 3134 partially educational institution damaged, 403km of road fully and 4432.38 km of road partially damaged, 268 bridge and 96 km of embankment damaged.
In the 19th century, six major floods were recorded: 1842, 1858, 1871, 1875, 1885 and 1892. Eighteen major floods occurred in the 20th century. Those of 1987, 1988 and 1951 were of catastrophic consequence. More recent floods include 2004 and 2010,2017.
The flood of 1988, which was also of catastrophic consequence, occurred throughout August and September. The waters inundated about 82,000 km2 of land, (about 60% of the area) and its return period was estimated at 50–100 years. Rainfall together with synchronisation of very high flows of all the three major rivers of the country in only three days aggravated the flood. the capital of Bangladesh, was severely affected. The flood lasted 15 to 20 days.
In 1998, over 75% of the total area of the country was flooded, including half of the capital city Dhaka It was similar to the catastrophic flood of 1988 in terms of the extent of the flooding. A combination of heavy rainfall within and outside the country and synchronization of peak flows of the major rivers contributed to the river. 30 million people were made homeless and the death toll reached over a thousand.The flooding caused contamination of crops and animals and unclean water resulted in cholera and typhoid outbreaks. Few hospitals were functional because of damage from the flooding and those that were had too many patients, resulting in everyday injuries becoming fatal due to lack of treatment. 700,000 hectares of crops were destroyed,400 factories were forced to close, and there was a 20% decrease in economic production. Communication within the country also became difficult.
1999 floods although not as serious as the 1998 floods, were still very dangerous and costly. The floods occurred between July and September, causing many deaths, and many people were left homeless. extensive
The 2004 flood was very similar to the 1988 and 1998 floods with two thirds of the country under water.
In early October 2005, dozens of villages were inundated when rain caused the rivers of northwestern Bangladesh to burst their banks.
Floods also occurred in 2015 and 2017.
Coverage of inundation and deaths in major floods , 1954-1998
| Year | Flooded Area (Km2) | Percentage of Total Area | Number of Deaths | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 36920 | 25 | 112 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1955 | 50700 | 34 | 129 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1956 | 35620 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1962 | 37404 | 25 | 117 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963 | 43180 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968 | 37300 | 25 | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 | 42640 | 28 | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1971 | 36475 | 24 | 120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974 | 52720 | 35 | 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | 28314 | 19 | 513 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | 57491 | 38 | 1657 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | 77700 | 52 | 2379 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | 100000 | 68 | 1050 |
dfgvAfter the devastating flood of July, second time monsoon flood started on 12 August affecting 31 districts named Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, , GaibandhaBogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Rangamati, Brahmanbaria, Faridpur, Rajbari, Jessore, Mymensingh, Tangail, Sylhet, Sherpur, Dhaka, Moulvibazar, Naogaon, Comilla, Rangpur, Manikganj, Madaripur, Joypurhat, Shariatpur and Natore.
It disrupted people’s normal life. 1200 union of 183 upazilas under 31 districts are affected and 8746 villages affected.
Total 238843 people full and 6536509 people partially affected, 50042 households fully and 1305257 households partially affected, 71628 houses fully and 548175 houses partially damaged. Total 121 people died. 15529 hectare fully and 562594 hectare partially agricultural land inundated, 34 fully and 3134 partially educational institution damaged, 403km of road fully and 4432.38 km of road partially damaged, 268 bridge and 96 km of embankment damaged.
No comments