Authorities in flood-hit Bangladesh and northeastern India yesterday scrambled to provide aid to more than 9 million people marooned after the heaviest rains in years killed at least 54 people across both South Asian nations, officials said.
Monsoon rains in low-lying Bangladesh have triggered catastrophic flooding in the northeastern Sylhet administrative division, leaving one-quarter of its 15 million population stranded amid fast-rising waters and swollen rivers.
“The flooding is the worst in 122 years in the Sylhet region,” said Atiqul Haque, Director-General of Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management.
The situation in Sylhet has been worsened by waters cascading down from the surrounding hills
Soldiers on small boats delivered relief material across flooded towns and villages in Bangladesh, after more than nine million people were marooned in the low-lying country and neighbouring India following heavy rains, officials said.
Authorities in flood-hit Bangladesh and northeastern India scrambled yesterday to provide aid to more than 9mn people marooned after the heaviest rains in