, Sept. 17 -- Although the water level of the Padma River has started receding in Daulatpur upazila, the sufferings of flood-hit people have increased, with a severe shortage of safe drinking water and reports of waterborne diseases.

A vast tract of low-lying areas of the upazila have been inundated by the floodwater, damaging crops on more than 1,000 hectares of land.

Around 50,000 people in Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions are still marooned and living in difficult conditions.

According to the Kushtia Water Development Board (WDB), the Padma's water level has fallen by around 15 centimetres over the past three days.

Although the situation has improved slightly, the hardships of people in the affected areas have not eased. Rather, t...