Trails of destruction have emerged as floodwater recedes in southern, central and northern Bangladesh, with official estimates showing that more than 200km of roads were damaged in Chattogram division alone between July 6 and 12.

The damaged road network included local roads as well as national and regional highways, underscoring the scale of repair work needed to restore normal business activities following the flash flood that tore through the country for eight days.

The monsoon deluge, intensified by a depression, swamped vast swathes in rural and urban areas, including Dhaka, killing 57 and affecting over a million people.

The Roads and Highways Division said that at least 63 roads stretching over 211km under six road divisions in the Chattogram zone were damaged by the heavy rain and flash floods between July 6 and July 12.

The damaged roads are located in the Chattogram, Chattogram South, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari road divisions.

The damaged network includes around 34km of national highways, 34km of regional highways and 143km of district roads, RHD said on Wednesday.

The division urged passengers and transport operators to exercise caution while travelling on vulnerable and damaged roads and to use alternative routes where necessary.

On Wednesday, the death toll from floods and landslides triggered by days of torrential rain and flash floods rose to 57, according to the disaster management and relief ministry.

According to the ministry, 32 of the deaths occurred in Cox’s Bazar, including 19 local residents and 13 Rohingyas, followed by 15 in Chattogram, six in Bandarban, three in Rangamati and one in Moulvibazar. Forty other people were injured.

Seven districts – Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Habiganj – remain affected.

A total of 111 shelters have been opened in the affected areas, where 4,079 people are currently staying.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said that three rivers were flowing above the danger level as of 6:00pm on Wednesday. The Kushiyara River at Fenchuganj in Sylhet was 25cm above the danger level, the Surma at Markuli in Sunamganj 8cm above and the Someswari River at Kalmakanda in Netrokona 2cm above.

The FFWC on Wednesday morning said that the highest upstream rainfall during the past 24 hours was 133mm at Kumarghat in India’s Tripura state, while the highest rainfall within Bangladesh was 77mm at Maheshkhola in Sunamganj.

It also said that the Monu River in Moulvibazar and the Khowai River in Habiganj would flow close to the danger level, flooding low-laying areas temporarily.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that a low-pressure area had formed over the northwest Bay and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coast, increasing the likelihood of fresh spells of rain across the country.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep local cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted.

According to the disaster management and relief ministry, the seven affected districts had been allocated an additional Tk 1.75 crore in cash and 3,250 tonnes of rice, while Tk 4.60 crore has been earmarked for regular relief operations across all 64 districts.

Disaster management minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Wednesday warned that no irregularities, political discrimination or favouritism in relief distribution would be tolerated.

‘There is no politics when it comes to assisting disaster-hit people. If we receive any allegation of irregularities in relief distribution, immediate action will be taken,’ he said while visiting the excavation of the Jalkadar canal at Purba Dhomra in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram before distributing relief among flood victims.

Although weather conditions improved on Wednesday with sunshine prevailing across much of the country, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded the day’s highest rainfall of 51mm at Srimangal in Moulvibazar.

The BMD forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Khulna divisions on Thursday.

Moderately heavy to heavy rainfall is likely at places across the country, while both day and night temperatures may rise slightly.