Hundreds of people have taken shelter in high places and at the Upazila Parishad building. They are yet to be provided with relief.

Seventy-year-old woman Puti Dashi of Madinabad union died Wednesday night from starvation, her relatives said.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) however said she died of diarrohea.

According to the UNO, at least 800 kutcha houses have collapsed.

An acute crisis of drinking water is prevailing as most of the tube wells in the 22 villages have gone under five to six feet water.

Over 300 people have been attacked with diarroheal and other water-borne diseases.

Floodwater has completely disrupted road links. Power supply is yet to be restored.

At least 100 shrimp enclosures have been washed away and Aman crops on f 3000 hectares have been totally damaged.

Marooned people are also suffering from insecurity. A large number of them are starving. When asked, UNO expressed his inability to ensure security. "It is not my duty", he said.

Hundreds of people have also been marooned at Paikgacha upzila due to collapse of the town protection embankment. The embankment collapsed due to pressure of surging water from swelling Shibsha river.

At least one-third of Paikgacha town is under four to five feet water.

Situation may turn alarming if the embankment is not rebuilt, which will require at least Tk one crore, UNO AFM Manzoor Kader said on Thursday.

A disaster prevention committee has been formed with Paikgacha Pourasava Chairman as its convenor. The upazila administration has sanctioned five metric tonnes of rice for the affected people, the UNO said.

He said a control room has been set up to monitor the situation round-the-clock.

But the disaster prevention committee formed by the UNO does not have representation of Awami League.

When asked, the UNO said local AL leaders were invited but they did not attend the meeting where the committee was formed.

But AL leaders said they were not invited.