Comilla, August 23  — Continuous heavy rains and landslides from the upper reaches of Tripura state in India have led to severe flooding in Comilla, submerging areas on both sides of the Gomti River, including Pachtubi, Amratli, parts of Jagannathpur Union, and Chauddagram Upazila. Almost all the villages in Kashinagar, Munsirhat, Sreepur, Shubopur, and Uzirpur Union in the lower part of Chauddagram Upazila near the Feni border with India are under water.

Hundreds of thousands of people from these areas are being forced to evacuate their homes, carrying essential goods and livestock to seek refuge in safe shelters.

The flooding has also submerged a five-kilometer stretch of the Chauddagram section of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway since Thursday morning, resulting in a complete halt of all traffic. Khairul Alam, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Highway Police Comilla Region, confirmed that traffic on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway has been stopped due to the rising floodwaters in the Lalpol area of Feni.

The entire Chauddagram Upazila has been without electricity since Wednesday night, and mobile internet connectivity is slow, leaving several areas disconnected. Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, the executive officer of Chauddagram Upazila, stated on Thursday evening that rescue teams have not yet been able to reach many areas due to connectivity issues. Some areas have received dry food, but army personnel have yet to start their relief activities.

According to Abdul Latif, Supervising Engineer of the Comilla Water Development Board, a dam on the Kankri River, which flows through Chauddagram, broke on Wednesday night, allowing floodwaters to enter the village. Additionally, the heavy rains caused another section of the river dam to collapse. The water level of the Gomti River is currently 113 cm above the danger mark. Residents have been advised to move to safe shelters.

Chayed Arifur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of the Comilla Meteorological Department, reported that 195 millimeters of rain fell in the past 24 hours up to 3 pm on Thursday. Heavy rains with thunderstorms are expected in Comilla over the next 48 hours.

In response to the disaster, students, including the coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, district and metropolitan BNP members, volunteers, Chhatra Dal, district and metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami, and student camps have been distributing food to the flood victims.