Death toll in Bangladesh flood shoots up to 226

Dhaka, Aug 10 (UNI) Sixteen more people died from the current devastating floods in Bangladesh, raising the toll to 226 today, relief ministry officials said.

The officials said although most rivers were receding but flew above their danger marks, over nine million people in 33 districts were still reeling under waters.

About 3,43,000 people remained in 1,326 flood shelter centres.

The government and private organisations continued to distribute cash money, dry foods, water purification tablets and medicines among the flood victims.

Saudi King Abdullah announced 50 million dollars relief for Bangladeshi flood victims.

With the water receding, water-borne diseases like diarrhoea were spreading in the affected areas due to lack of pure drinking water. According to hospital sources around 18,000 people were affected by diarrhoea. Of them, about 4,300 patients were admitted to a specialised hospital here in the past one week.

The flood situation around here, especially in the eastern part, was improving as five small rivers surrounding it registered fall in last 24 hours.

The monsoon floods caused damages to more than 8,00,000 houses, standing crops on nearly 12,00,000 acres and over 18,000 kms of roads completely or partially.

UNI