Rapid Emergency Response Report

Emergency Overview

A sudden flash flood struck Dighinala Upazila during the night of 21–22 August 2026 following exceptionally intense rainfall. The Dighinala weather observation station recorded approximately 103 millimetres of rainfall within only three hours. The resulting rapid rise of the Maini River and surrounding mountain streams inundated low-lying settlements before many families could protect food, belongings and essential household items.

Initial reports confirm flooding in Merung, Kabakhali and Boalkhali unions. Homes, sections of the Dighinala–Merung road and Aman paddy fields have been submerged. Landslides at the 5 Mile and 9 Mile areas also disrupted access along the Khagrachari–Dighinala–Sajek road.

103 mmRainfall recorded in approximately three hours

3 unionsConfirmed priority unions in Dighinala

500 HHMaximum initial planning target—not a confirmed affected count

30 daysProposed immediate response period

Data caution: The local administration is preparing the affected-household list. No verified total for affected houses, population, crop acreage or financial loss was available at the reporting cut-off. TUS will use verified assessment data before final beneficiary selection or distribution.

Confirmed Affected Areas and Immediate Concerns

Area	Reported impact
Merung Union	Low-lying villages, homes, agricultural land and sections of the Dighinala–Merung road inundated.
Kabakhali Union	Low-lying settlements and agricultural land affected by rising river and hill runoff.
Boalkhali Union	Homes and Aman fields affected; rapid rise of Boalkhali Chhara flooded JamTali.
Chowmuhani–Jagannathpara	Water entered homes, including houses reportedly unaffected during the previous flood.
5 Mile and 9 Mile	Landslides disrupted movement along the Khagrachari–Dighinala–Sajek road.

Immediate humanitarian concerns

Loss of stored food and essential household belongings
Unsafe drinking water and contaminated sanitation facilities
Temporary displacement and exposure to further rainfall
Waterborne disease and hygiene risks

Protection and livelihood concerns

Risks to children, older people, pregnant women and persons with disabilities
Aman crop damage and possible livelihood loss
Restricted market, health and relief access
Further flooding or landslides if rainfall continues

Proposed Emergency Response

1. Rapid assessment and verification

Deploy trained TUS staff and volunteers to record household impact, vulnerability, GPS location, priority needs and evidence, and coordinate results with the Upazila Administration and Union Parishads.

2. Emergency food assistance

Provide needs-based emergency food or ready-to-eat packages to highly vulnerable households, subject to market availability and verified gaps.

3. WASH and essential household support

Provide safe water, purification tablets, hygiene materials, menstrual-hygiene items and context-appropriate shelter and essential household materials.

4. Protection and referral

Prioritise severely affected and at-risk households and refer urgent health, protection, disability or specialised needs to appropriate services.

Selection principle: The proposed target of up to 500 households is an operational planning ceiling only. Final coverage will be determined through severity-based household verification, local coordination and duplication checks.

Indicative Funding Requirement

Flexible emergency funding requested

For an initial 30-day rapid assessment, relief and accountability response in verified high-priority communities.

BDT 2,500,000

Proposed component	Indicative amount
Emergency food and essential household assistance	BDT 1,650,000
Safe water, hygiene and sanitation support	BDT 400,000
Rapid assessment, transport and distribution logistics	BDT 250,000
Monitoring, accountability and documentation	BDT 100,000
Operational and administrative support	BDT 100,000
Total indicative requirement	BDT 2,500,000

The budget is preliminary and will be adjusted according to verified needs, final coverage, accessibility, market prices and donor compliance requirements. A detailed activity-based budget will be submitted before contracting or fund disbursement.

TUS Capacity and Accountability

Why TUS

TUS is a Khagrachari-based local organisation with community networks, knowledge of the local geography and languages, and operational experience across the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Its staff and volunteers can support rapid access, verification, coordination and monitoring.

Minimum commitments

Transparent vulnerability-based selection
Coordination and duplication prevention
Safe, dignified and inclusive distributions
Community feedback and complaints mechanism
Distribution evidence, financial records and donor reporting

Request to humanitarian partners

TUS requests flexible emergency funding, relief materials or logistical assistance. Early support is critical to prevent deterioration in food security, safe-water access, health and household protection.

Contact TUS

Photographic Evidence

Field-photo reference: The following 18 photographs were supplied for inclusion in this TUS emergency appeal. Photos 1–15 document flood impacts reported from Dighinala, while Photos 16–18 were identified by the contributor as Khagrachari Sadar locations near the Chengi River. Together they visually document inundated agricultural land, household compounds, community access routes, public facilities, emergency boat movement, high river water and one visibly damaged residential structure. Exact GPS locations, capture times, photographer names and household identities were not embedded in the supplied files and should be confirmed through TUS field records before they are cited as household-level verification.

**Photo 1: Agricultural inundation**Standing crops surrounded by floodwater, documenting direct exposure of cultivated land.

**Photo 2: Flooded homestead vegetation**Floodwater covering a residential yard and surrounding trees and bamboo.

**Photo 3: Cultivated land beside homes**A large waterlogged plot adjoining residential structures.

**Photo 4: Inundated residential passage**Floodwater restricting movement through a narrow passage between houses.

**Photo 5: Homestead and garden flooding**Water surrounding household garden structures and access space.

**Photo 6: Visibly damaged house**Collapsed corrugated-metal wall or roofing sheets beside a flooded household structure.

**Photo 7: Flooded access between houses**Standing water affecting a narrow residential route beside a bamboo-walled house.

**Photo 8: Banana cultivation submerged**Floodwater covering a banana plot and threatening household agricultural production.

**Photo 9: High river and floodplain water**Extensive water level across the river or adjoining floodplain.

**Photo 10: Flooded household compound**Water surrounding homes, fences and household access areas.

**Photo 11: Submerged footbridge or walkway**Floodwater covering the walking surface and restricting safe community movement.

**Photo 12: Waterlogged residential lane**Deep standing water between closely spaced homes and boundary structures.

**Photo 13: Flooded community pathway**Standing water covering a local pathway bordered by household fencing.

**Photo 14: River overflow near housing**High water extending toward a riverside house and access path.

**Photo 15: Elevated river level near bridge**Wide floodwater extent visible beside a bridge and raised riverside structure.

Flooded institutional compound near the Chengi River — **Photo 16: Flooded institutional compound**Standing floodwater across an institutional compound in Khagrachari Sadar near the Chengi River.

Boat movement through flooded settlement near the Chengi River — **Photo 17: Boat movement through flooded settlement**Residents travelling by boat through an inundated neighbourhood in Khagrachari Sadar near the Chengi River.

Flooded household and livelihood assets in Ganjpara — **Photo 18: Flooded household and livelihood assets**Floodwater affecting a household compound and stored livelihood materials in Ganjpara, Khagrachari Sadar, near the Chengi River.

Video and Social-Media Evidence

Field video: Flash-flood conditionsVideo reference shared for the 22 August 2026 flood situation, showing conditions associated with the emergency update.Watch video on Facebook → Related Facebook field updateSocial-media post supplied as supporting reference for flooding in Khagrachari Sadar near the Chengi River.Open supporting post →

Click any photograph to open the full-resolution evidence file. Photographs should be used with appropriate consent and protection safeguards; they demonstrate visible conditions but do not independently establish total household or monetary losses.

Evidence Sources and Reporting Note

Reporting status: This is a rapid emergency appeal based on public reporting available on 22 August 2026. It is not a final damage-and-needs assessment. Figures and priorities must be refreshed using government information and TUS field verification before implementation.