UPDATE - Floods in Bangladesh kill 42, spread waterborne diseases

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; ADDS DETAILS; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Floods caused by heavy rains in Bangladesh have killed at least 42 people and spread waterborne diseases, with calls mounting for food and potable water.

The deaths were mainly due to snake bites, drowning, landslides and other injuries, according to the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The dead include 21 in the northeastern Sylhet administrative division, 18 in the north-central Mymensingh division and three in the northern Rangpur division, it said on Wednesday.

Over 3,400 people have been infected by various waterborne diseases due to floods in four parts of the country from June 18-22.

The situation in Bangladesh has worsened due to the heavy rains and an onrush of water from the hills across the borders in India, affecting at least 13 districts out of the 64 that have been submerged.

Meanwhile, houses and other properties of several hundred people have been destroyed by floods in Bangladesh's northern Sirajganj district. Hundreds of thousands of people are also affected by the flood situation in other districts.

Government agencies are working on a priority basis to send food and potable water. The army, navy and members of the air force have joined the efforts.

Floodwaters have also damaged 56,000 hectares (138,379 acres) of paddy fields in the Sylhet administrative division alone while agricultural goods and seeds in other regions have been damaged, including in the Rangpur division.

The floods have also caused extensive damage to roads and rail lines.