Dhaka: Although the overall flood situation in Bangladesh's northern region improved further on Sunday, thousands of affected people could not return to their houses as those remain still under water amid a crisis of food and pure water.

In many areas, the flood victims were passing their days in shelter centres or embankments having little food. Besides, the waterborne diseases have broken out in many areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced to provide food assistance to the flood-affected families of the country for the next three months until the next crops are harvested.

Visiting flood-hit Dinajpur and Kurigram district, she also said the government will do everything possible to ensure their food, healthcare and other necessities.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the water level of all the major rivers in the northern region declined further.

The water level of the Dharla fell by 26cm at Kurigram point and was now flowing below the red mark while the Teesta was flowing 45 and 143cm below the danger level at Dalia and Kaunia points.

The Brahmaputra was overflowing 3cm at Chilmari point while the Jamuna 59cm, 54cm, 90cm and 97cm above the danger level at Bahadurabad, Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points declining 16cm, 22cm, 26cm and 21cm respectively.

The water level of the Atrai River dropped 8cm. However, it was still flowing 100cm above the danger level at Baghabari point.

The Padma water was moving 97cm above the danger level at Goalanda.

In Kurigram, the flood-hit people are in great miseries for lack of adequate relief materials and pure water. The situation aggravated with the spread of waterborne diseases in the flood-affected areas.

Many victims alleged that they were not getting the government relief, forcing many to starve.

Meanwhile, the water level of all the 16 major rivers, including Teesta, Dharla and Brhamaputra, decreased further.

However, many victims who took shelter in shelter centres or embankments could not return to their respective houses as those still remained under water.

Besides, the academic activities of 923 educational institutes remained suspended in the district.

In Natore, some 45 villages in Singra and Naldanga upazilas were submerged by the floodwater on Sunday due to unusual rise in the water level of the Atrai and Barnoi rivers.

At least 15 villages were flooded as Singra-Atrai regional flood control dam went under water on Saturday night.

The Atrai was flowing 83cm above the danger mark, said sources at Water Development Board in Natore.

Some 20,000 people of 30 villages in Naldanga upazila were marooned by floodwater following the rise in the water level of the Barnoi.

In Chapainawabganj, Border Guard Bangladesh men distributed relief materials among the flood-affected people in Bholahat upazila.

At least 150 families received the relief materials, including rice and water.

In Gaibandha, the flood condition was improving with a fall in the water level of major rivers.

The flood control embankment at Nurullabil broke down flooding several adjacent villages in Rakhalburuz union in Gobindaganj.

A 23-foot portion of the Gaibandha-Bamandanga road was damaged by the floodwater which put a railway bridge near Bamandanga railway station at risk.

In Tangail, the train communication of the district with Dhaka and rest of the country remained suspended since Sunday morning as a portion of a rail bridge on the Pouli River in Kalihati upazila subsided after strong current of floodwater eroded soil from the riverbed.

Station master of Gharinda Railway Station Jalaluddin said they noticed the matter around 5:30 am and stopped the train movement through the bridge.

As a result, around 6-7 trains got stuck on both sides of the bridge, he said, adding that a team has been working to repair the bridge. He said the bridge will be repaired by Monday.
 In Sherpur, the communication between Sherpur and Jamalpur remained suspended as the connecting road was inundated by water.

Local government and other voluntary organisations were distributing relief among the affected people.

In Jamalpur, some 961,132 people were affected by the flood in seven upazilas of the district while flood damaged crops on 48,783 hectares of land which also closed 1,035 educational institutions.

People were suffering for lack of adequate food and safe water while waterborne diseases have turned into an epidemic.

Meanwhile, 27 medical teams were working to treat the affected people.

In Sirajganj, though the floodwater is decreasing, there is no end to the miseries of the affected people. The nuisance of snake has marked a sharp rise in char areas on the banks of the Jamuna River in five upazilas. In the last few days, three people died in snakebites.

Flood control embankments remain under risk those became weak in several areas due to gushing waters.

In Bogra, the water level of the Jamuna decreased 23cm though it was still flowing 56cm above the danger level. Some 136,217 of 195 villages were living a miserable life for lack of food and water.

In five upazilas of the district, 9,200 hectares of paddy fields were inundated.

In Kushtia, a flood control embankment started eroding at several points in Sadar upazila.

Local Water Development Board executive engineer Jahid Hossain said the Padma water keeps on rising.

In Rajbari, Goalananda Bazar Railway Station remained shut due to flooding while the water level of the Padma started to decline. However, the flood-affected people were suffering immensely.

Some 599 hectares of paddy field remained submerged in floodwater.

In Chandpur, the Meghna and Padma were swelling, inundating the low-lying areas in Sadar, Matlab North, Haimchar and Matlab South upazilas.

Contacted, Executive Engineer of Chandpur Water Development Board Md Abu Raihan said the Meghna was flowing 57cm above the danger level at Chandpur Sadar, Haimchar and Matlab North belts at 6pm.