At least 52 people, including 39 men, six women and seven children, died in the devastating flood as deaths of 21 more people were reported today.

Among the deaths, 14 were in Cumilla, 17 in Feni, six in Chattogram, eight in Noakhali, one each in Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur and three in Cox's Bazar districts. Besides, one person remains missing in Moulvibazar district.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief KM Ali Reza revealed the information at a press conference at the ministry's conference room in Bangladesh Secretariat here this afternoon.

He said the overall flood situation has improved in the country as water of the rivers has been on a receding trend.

Reza said as many as 5,480,463 people have been affected by the flood in 492 unions and municipalities under 68 upazilas in 11 districts.

A total of 1,072,579 families have remained marooned while 502,501 people are currently staying at 3,403 shelter centres, he said, adding a total of 36,448 heads of cattle were given shelter there.

The official said 595 medical teams are currently providing healthcare services to the affected people in the flood-hit districts.

Reza said Taka 4.52 crore in cash, 20,650 metric tonnes of rice and 15,000 packets of dry food, Taka 35 lakh for baby food and Taka 35 lakh for fodder have been allocated for the 11 flood-hit districts.

Besides, relief distribution activities from the government and non-government sides are going on in the flood-hit districts, he added.

A total of 104,100 packets of relief items, including dry foods, clothes and water, collected by the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement have been sent to the flood-affected areas through the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), the official said.

The DDM and coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement are in close cooperation round the clock, Reza said.

Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the flood-hit areas have been instructed to work in coordination with the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Fire Service and Civil Defence, medical teams and other volunteers, he added.

The flood affected districts are: Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar. BSS