Bracing for floods :Infuse urgency in relief efforts

NOW that a large swathe of northern and central Bangladesh is inundated, it is time to engage vigorously in tackling the effects of flood that has affected a large number of people.

Flood is a regular occurrence for us, but the sufferings of the people of the flood-hit areas need not be a regular feature, particularly when we have proven record of efficient management of flood disasters, and when we are forewarned and adequately prepared to tackle it. According to experts 4-5 days of forewarning is adequate. Here one cannot emphasise enough the need for info sharing with India -- through which 52 of the 53 rivers run into Bangladesh, in order to allow gearing up the readiness level.

It was not as if we were caught unawares. The situation in Bihar should have given us adequate warning of things to come. People of the areas that were likely to be most affected should have been given proper advisory, which might have saved many from the sufferings they are undergoing.

This time the situation has been compounded by the fact that all the three major river basins that serve us, are in spate. The outlook, one apprehends, is very dismal, and going by what experts predict, a 1988 repeat is very likely. And added to it is the fact that it is the month of Ramadan, where disruption of normal course of life of the common people adds to their woes.

It is good to hear assuaging comments of the officials of the water development board, but telling people "not to be worried" brings little comfort to the thousands that are marooned and the many that have been uprooted from their homes because of flood. Without sounding too alarmist there are reasons for concern if the river basins continue to receive the amount of rainfall that they have in the last fortnight.

The priority must be to save lives while taking measures to reduce the scope of the damage. While mobile teams have been sent to the vulnerable areas to help local officials protect embankments, rescue efforts of the marooned must be intensified and the displaced must be provided with food and drinking water and afforded necessary protection against diseases.