A Deep Dive into the Recent Flash Floods in Bangladesh:

Sherpur, a district in northern Bangladesh, is currently witnessing one of its worst flash floods(A flash flood is a sudden and intense flood that occurs within six hours of heavy rainfall or other causes, such as dam failures making it more difficult to take proper precautionary actions) in over 40 years. This disaster, mainly triggered by a combination of relentless rainfall and sudden runoff from the nearby Meghalaya hills in India, left thousands displaced and caused significant damage to homes, farmlands, and infrastructure.

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Principal Causes of this flash flood:

There are many factors that played a vital role in this flash flood. However the main causes of this flash flood are:

Continuous Heavy Rainfall and river overflow : The most immediate cause of the floods was sustained heavy rainfall in the region. Within just 12 hours, the villagers experienced flash flooding as the Moharashi, Bhogai, and Chellakhali rivers overflowed their banks. Over a period of several days, Sherpur and surrounding areas received record-breaking rainfall. According to the Water Development Board, rainfall was recorded at 177 mm in Sherpur and 255 mm and 260 mm at two points in Nalitabari until 10 AM Friday.

This massive downpour caused rivers in this region to swell far beyond their capacity. The Chellakhali River swelled by 27.28 cm and the Bhogai River by 7.56 cm above the danger level. According to the residents of these regions, water from these two rivers overflowed on Friday, resulting in flooding the homes of residents in the nearby riverside villages. The overflow of these rivers is a recurring issue in Sherpur, particularly during periods of intense rainfall, but the scale of the 2024 flood was far more severe than in previous years.

Sudden Mountain Runoff from Meghalaya: The geography of Sherpur plays a critical role in its vulnerability to floods. The district lies downstream from the hilly regions of Meghalaya, India, which experience significant rainfall during the monsoon season. Geographically, Sherpur is approximately 1,485 meters (4,900 feet) lower than the highland regions of Meghalaya which recorded rainfall of around 244 mm in Shillong early Friday morning.

One of the highest mountains in the Meghalaya mountains is the place called Chokhpat. This is the place where the heaviest rainfall has occurred and is opposite Sherpur district. As a result, the heavy rains that are occurring in this part of the hills are coming down very fast in the form of hill slopes in the rivers of Sherpur district.

Therefore this sudden influx caused rivers like the Chellakhali and Bhogai to overflow rapidly, triggering flash floods that submerged large areas of the district. Water from upstream India flooded Haluaghat Sadar Union, Bhubankura, Jugli, Ghazirvita, and Kaichapur. The situation worsened in the Friday evening when the local Bhogai River dam collapsed.

Monsoon Climate Patterns: Sherpur’s vulnerability is heightened by Bangladesh’s monsoon climate. The monsoon season, which runs from June to October, typically brings heavy rains to the region. The current floods were the result of this seasonal pattern, worsened by climate variability, which is leading to more intense and unpredictable rainfall across South Asia. The BMD expects rainfall to continue until October 6, with rising river levels until Saturday morning.

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Impact of recent flash flood: The recent flash floods in Bangladesh, particularly in the northern area, are significantly affecting human life, agriculture, and the economy, especially in Sherpur. Like all other flood situations, this flood is impacting human life and the economy as well as agriculture.

Vulnerability of the People:

More than 20,000 people have lost their homes due to the flood, and they have had to take shelter elsewhere.

Lack of Sufficient Supplies:

People affected by the recent flash floods are suffering from shortages of daily necessities and sufficient products.

Lack of Food and Healthcare:

People are unable to receive the relief they desperately need, and they also lack access to necessary healthcare supplies.

Agricultural Losses:

Flash floods always come as a curse for agriculture. In the southern area, most people depend on agriculture, but due to this flood, they have lost everything.

Economic Loss:

The recent flash flood is disrupting the economy, and its effects are felt throughout the entire country.

Solutions:

From some analysis, we can identify several necessary solutions for flash floods:

Warning System:

If people in southern areas receive timely warnings from the government or weather offices, they can take necessary steps to protect themselves.

Infrastructure Development:

Developing flood-resistant infrastructure in southern areas would significantly improve the resilience of these regions.

Proper Training and Guidelines for Flash Floods:

People should be provided with appropriate guidance and training on flash flood preparedness, which would be highly beneficial for their safety.

Backup Economic Solution:

The southern area governments should maintain emergency funds for sudden flood relief and healthcare support for the affected people.

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Future Issues: Due to climate change, more flash floods are expected to happen in the near future. Probability is it will be more intense and flood zones might expand which will expose more areas to flooding. Areas that are already exposed to flooding might be in extreme danger zones as flooding will be deeper. More than adults, children are at higher risk as they are more prone to malnutrition, drowning? and other dangers. Widespread damage might happen to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. Extensive damage to crops and livestocks can happen that will do great harm to farmers.

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Recovery:

●?????? During flash flood recovery, people need to tune into local radio and television for important updates.

●?????? Immediate priority should be given to clean water, sanitation and shelter.?

●?????? Floodwater is mostly contaminated, so we need to avoid that and use boiled clear water. Boiling water during flash floods is extremely important as it will kill harmful components.

●?????? We need to clean all areas around home to limit flies breeding as they breed quickly after floods.

●?????? Long term recovery plan should have rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring livelihoods and implementing disaster risk reduction measurable actions.

●?????? We also need to do various awareness campaigns and community based initiatives focused on vulnerable people affected by flash floods.

●?????? To manage the risk of flooding, we can use land planning to minimize the consequences.

Written by -

Kazi Maisha Alam

Suraiya Sharmin Siza

Ratul Ghosh