Shamiran Biswas

Pay special attention to the elderly, children, physically challenged people of the house, especially pregnant women. Besides, keep the necessary things including money, land documents, education certificate safe. Keep medicines and first aid equipment for various water borne diseases in storage. Do not walk, swim, or drive in floodwaters after a flood. The real battle will begin as soon as the water rises above the flood danger level slowly recedes.

Coping with the aftermath of a flood is usually more difficult than the flood itself. At that time, not so many people live next to it like nowadays. Then we have to deal with ourselves. It has to deal with the difficult situation of the post-flood period. Millions of people in Comilla, a part of Sylhet's Chittagong have been hit by floods due to continuous rains and landslides coming down from India's Meghalaya. Houses and roads in almost all areas of the city have been submerged in flood water. The people of these areas have suffered greatly.

People were not being accommodated in the shelters either. The railway line was also submerged in the flood water. Even electricity supply was stopped in several places. The people of Chittagong, Comilla and Sylhet have been isolated a lot. All in all, the flood was severe. Meanwhile, the army is working to rescue the flood victims. The country's students, public, various social and professional organizations, institutions extended their helping hand to the flood victims.

Post-Flood Actions:

Although the flood situation is scary for everyone, everyone has to take a calm and cool decision at this time. Everyone should be careful to save themselves and their families in the aftermath of floods. Diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, skin infections, skin diseases, respiratory problems, mosquito-borne diseases and mental health problems can occur after floods, in which case naval ambulances and mobile medical teams can be arranged to deal with health risks. Several things should be kept in mind at this time. The post-flood period is more difficult than the flood period. So listen to the authorities at that time.

They will return home only when given permission or when declared safe. Pack a survival kit. Take enough food and water for at least three days there. Keep one dress for each, necessary medicine. Listen to the radio, local switching system or government instructions for emergency information. Do not walk, swim, or drive in floodwaters after a flood. Because even in 6 inches of water you can lose control. Stay away from wet electrical equipment, as there is a risk of electric shock. Before entering the home, check for structural damage. Do not turn on power before inspecting electrical components. Snakes and other animals can live in your house, so be careful. Wear gloves and boots if possible. Clean, disinfect and dry every flood-contaminated room. If you have insurance, make sure there are pictures or videos to document the insurance claim.

What farmers should do after flood:

According to experts, housing, agriculture, fisheries and health are most important and urgent in post-flood rehabilitation. Farmers are more interested in seeds that grow in mud or silt soil during the post-flood period. Farmers need to start working with crops that do well in clay. Most of the seedbeds have been damaged in all the areas of the country that have been affected by floods during the current mine season. In all the areas where there is no elevated land for seed beds, steps should be taken to produce seedlings under floating seed beds and deep seed beds. In case of floating seed beds, floating seed beds can be made on banana rafts with kachuripana and soil. In case of sowing dapog seeds, spread two to three kg of sprouted seeds per square meter like a square house made of polythene, wood or banana bark in the yard or any dry place or muddy flat area. 14 to 15 days old seedlings should be planted in the field from the seed bed made in this way.

Cultivation of short life varieties with and without Bridhan after the subsidence of flood water such as BRRIdhan 33, BRRIdhan 57 BRRIdhan 62 BRRIdhan 71 BRRIdhan 75 BINAdhan 7 and BINAdhan 17 till August 25 only in flood affected areas of Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur and Greater Chittagong region. Can be done It should be noted that short life varieties cannot be cultivated in other areas of the country including Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur which are prone to flooding.

Farmers' woes will know no bounds if the next Rabi crop does not yield a bumper crop. So now farmers need to be given special training on improved cultivation of rabi crops, especially wheat, maize, potato and pulses. The farmer has to provide agricultural inputs including seeds in advance. To increase agricultural production in flood-affected areas, farmers need to provide adequate subsidy on agricultural inputs. Subsidy on agriculture is the actual agricultural investment of the government. The Rabi season vegetable seedlings are being supplied to all the flood affected areas of the country including Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Greater Chittagong region, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur as per the needs of the farmers. Besides, providing various types of vegetable seeds after flood to the family in order to grow vegetables in the homestead to meet the nutritional needs of the family. It must be remembered that post-flood marginal farmers are discouraged from farming, which will be a serious threat to Bangladesh's food security.

The writer is a, Agriculture and Environment Specialist, Dhaka.