PATUAKHALI, Aug 26:–Water borne diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea which broke out in the district attacked about 1150 persons. A total of 42 persons died of the diseases from January to August 15, official sources said.

The district civil surgeon office source informed that at least 24 persons were attacked with pneumonia of whom 12 died. On Sunday 9 am Shahidul (3), son of Sanu Gazi of Bawal Gachia village died of pneumonia. He was admitted to hospital one hour before his death.

Last week the number of affected persons was 65 of whom three died. About 1150 persons were affected with disease of whom 42 persons died from January to August 15. About 92 persons were children out of 1150.

Office sources informed 100 medical teams are working in 6 upazilas of Patuakhali district. Trawler capsizes On Sunday night fishing trawler F.B. Sumon capsized in the Bay of Bengal with 14 fishermen 30 km away of Kuakata, when it was caught by nor'wester while it was catching hilsha.

Another fishing trawler rescued 14 fishermen but fishing trawler could not be recovered. The owner of trawler Hanif informed that the incident incurred a loss of about Taka 5 lakh.

Dacoits loot Tk 2 lakh Dacoity was committed at Bauphal and the dacoits looted cash, goods, gold ornaments worth about Taka 2 lakh.

On Friday night a gang of armed dacoits numbering 10/12 entered Rahim Ali Mridha and Moulana Abdul Hai's houses of Varpasha village, under Keshabpur unions by breaking of the door. The miscreants looted cash of Tk 35,000 valuable goods and gold ornaments worth about Taka 2 lakh.

Acid thrown on house-wife On Saturday night unidentified persons threw acid on a house-wife while she was sleeping with her child at Itbaria village under Patuakhali sadar upazila. She was identified as Razia Begum (22), mother of one child.

The right side of her body was burnt. Hearing the hue and cry family members took her to Patuakhali general hospital in critical condition.



Flood victims living under open sky

Infrastructures damaged, only Tk 7.70 lakh allocated for Manikganj

From Our Correspondent

MANIKGANJ, Aug 26:–Flood water receded from all the upazila headquarters of the district. But people in the waterlogged and isolated areas are badly in need of reliefs to overcome their hardship.

Rainfall and strong currents in the rivers, Padma and Jamuna hampered post-flood relief and rehabilitation work at the char areas of Harirampur, Shibalaya and Daulatpur upazilas.

According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources, the government allocated only Tk 7.70 lakh against the requirements of over Tk 600 crore for the rehabilitation of flood affected people in the district.



Road communication badly affected

Officials said, road communications in five thanas of the district are yet to be restored fully as devastating flood water washed away roads in different parts of the district.

The worst-hit thanas are Gheor, Daulatpur, Saturia, Singair and Harirampur where road communications were badly affected by the surging water.

Roads connected with flood-hit upazilas went under four to six feet water causing heavy damages to the surface of the roads. Traffic remained suspended till August 23 last.



227 bridges, culverts damaged

About 1,275.5 kilometre long roads, 227 bridges and culverts and 54 kilometres of embankments were damaged completely by the recent floods.

The flood has completely damaged standing crops on 1,65,864 acres of land. Most of the farmers of the district have been affected due to the damage of aman, jute and sugarcane crops.

Some 5,942 houses have been completely damaged and 68,159 partially during the floods. Some 705 educational institutions have also been damaged. Houses not repaired

Most of the flood affected people have been passing their days under the open sky as they could not repair their damaged dwellings for want of money. The government did not take initiative to provide relief to the victims upto August 20.

Drinking water

scarcity

The affected people have been suffering from various intestinal diseases including dysentery and diarrhoea for shortage of pure drinking water. Besides, jaundice broke out in the areas. Most of the people are facing starvation as there is no work. The day-labourers are worst sufferers. Prices go up Prices of different varieties of pulses marked an all time high.

The prices of all essential commodities including rice, pulse, edible oils fish, egg, meat and vegetables have shot up.

Nilphamari

Our Nilphamari Correspondent adds: Deputy Commissioner Md. Shafi-ul-Alam distributed relief-meterials among the flood victims arranged by 'Protham Alo Bandhu Shava in a function held at Nilphamari pourashava auditorium on August 17.

The function was presided over by Prof Khorshed Alam while Deputy Commissioner Md. Shafi-ul-Alam was present as chief guest and Gias Ahmed central organiser of Bandhu Shava.

Deputy Commissioner distributed one bundle tin and Taka 500 each to family of flood victims. Total 62 flood victim families got relief.