NAOGAON. Oct 9 : A total of 84 unions including the municipality area here have been affected by the worst ever flood this year, reports UNB.

Flood Control Room sources said, over 2.19 lakh people have been marooned by the unprecedented calamity. Some 8,508 families completely and 39,354 have been partially affected.

Besides. 14 died from snake bite and drowning and 38 cattles were lost.

Crops on 47.830 hectares of land worth about Tk 1.25 crore were washed away by the floods, said Agriculture Department sources.

A total of 7,440 dwellings completely, 17,917 partially. 20 bridges and culverts. 8.40 km long embankment. 25.05 km

pucca roads and 170 km kutcha roads and 52 educational institutions have been damaged.

Some 107 flood shelters for the flood-hit people were set up where 21.200 people took refuge.

Meanwhile. Tk 5.04 lakh and over 493 metric tons of wheat have been allocated for the flood victims.

A total of 29.700 metric tons of rice have been allocated for distribution under the VGF cards and so far 633.600 metric tons were distributed.

Besides. 2.500 pieces saree. 199 pieces of lungi. 100 pieces of dhutt. 500 pieces of old clothes. 1.000 metre clothes. 500 pieces of scarf. 300 match boxes and 100 tin biscuits have also been distributed among the victims, official sources said.

Meanwhile. Water Development Board has undertaken a programme, involving Tk 19.16 crore, to protect the Batiaghata thana in Khulna district from flood in the current fiscal year.

Amirpur. Bandarkot and Baliadanga areas in the thana have been brought under the programme, official sources said.

The project work includes, construction of 52 km embankment. seven flushing sluice. 12 irrigation inlets. 12 jetties, six bridges and culverts and re-excavation of 30 km canal.

Besides, works for protection

four km river bank areas from erosion will be implemented under the project.

The project work has already been started and is expected to be completed by the year 2001. EDB sources said.

With the completion of the project, some 6.000 hectares of land would be saved from salinity and tidal surge which will help produce additional paddy and shrimp every year.

Another report from Narail adds: government has sanctioned 325 metric tons of wheat to implement several uplift schemes under Food for Works programme in the district under the post-flood rehabilitation programme.

Official sources said. 940 ints of wheat have already been distributed through 7.500 VGF cards as part of the programme.