The floodwater continued to rise yesterday.

Meteorological Department officials said yesterday that the low could turn into a depression and cross over Orissa in India but may cause downpour in Bangladesh. The sea is very rough because of the low, they said.

In Barisal district, most of areas of the Hizla, Banaripara Muladi, Vandaria and Sadar upazilas have reeled under floodwater as Tentulia and Karkhana rivers swelled further as waters from the central districts rolled down but can not floe into the sea.

The situation however improved in other areas of Barisal division.

At least 10 of the 30 wards of Barisal city including Tiakhali, C and B, Mallick Bari, Kazi Para, Harinafulia, Kalizira and the city outskirts are under knee deep water.

Ferry operation in Kirtankhola river is often disrupted as pontoons go under water during high tide.

Ten unions of Barisal Sadar upazila and five out of the fourteen unions in Bakerganj upazila went under water. The unions include Dudhal, Faridpur, Kabai, Nalua, Durgapasha, Durgapasha and Kabai.

At least 70,000 people are marooned in Hizla, Banaripara and Muladi upazilas, according to leaders of local bodies there.

Abdur Rahman Molla, chairman of Kabai union in the Sadar upazila said most of the houses in his union are now under water.

A total of 96 villages out of 108 have been affected.

Five thousand people have been affected in Vandaria upazila and Aman paddy on at least 2300 hectares damaged in Kawkhali upazila in Jhalakati district.

In Patuakhali, at least 200 feet of the ring embankment at Shibbaria in Khapravanga union in Kalapara upazila have been washed away by the floodwater. About twenty thousand people are marooned in the upazila.

Nine unions in Dshmina, Baufal and Dumki upazilas and 35 shoals in the district are badly affected.

In Ihalakathi, a large part of the district and vast areas in Nalchhity and Sadar upazilas have been inundated in the last two days.