4th-time flood, incessant rain hurting the north
Recurrence of flood and incessant rain are hitting people hard in the northern districts of the country.
Vast areas of croplands have been submerged in the last few days due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from upstream.
Most of the farmers in the region were cultivating winter crops. If water did not recede quickly, the crops would be damaged, farmers said.
Many people, who returned home from flood shelters few days ago and were struggling to repair their houses, have left their houses again and taken shelter in flood centres.
However, officials of Water Development Board (WDB) in some districts said there was no possibility of long-term flood.
This year, flood first hit northern region in June. It hit the region in second and third phases in the following months. Finally, the fourth phase hit the districts last week.
Our correspondents from different districts reported on flood situation.
In Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, over 35,000 people of nine upazilas are still marooned by floodwater.
The Dharla river water was flowing above 12 cm of danger level in Lalmonirhat's Shimulbari point and 26 cm above of danger level in Kurigram's Dharla Bridge point yesterday morning.
Aman paddy and vegetable fields went under floodwater in the region.
Many people have taken shelters on roads and embankments with their livestock and furniture. Incessant rain have added to their woes in the temporary tent wrapped by polythene.
"We have left our houses and taken shelter on road three days ago. But here we are facing trouble to stay due to incessant rains," said Sharbat Ali, 65, a resident of Shiberkuti village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
"We are going through immense sufferings since June due to repeated flood. Our house have been damaged for multiple times by floodwater," said Now Daybar Ali, 48, a resident of Mogholbasa village in Kurigram Sadar upazila.
"Our croplands have been inundated. If the water does not recede quickly, our crops will be damaged," said Azgar Ali, 62, a resident of Sardob village in Kurigram Sadar upazila.
In Bogura, the water of the Jamuna and the Bangali rivers were flowing 11 cm and 3 cm above the danger level yesterday morning.
"Water will slightly increase in these rivers and inundate some areas. But there is no possibility of long-term flood," said Mahbubur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB in Gaibandha.
A total 829 hectares of croplands have so far been inundated in the last three days, said Dulal Hossain, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district.
In Gaibandha, water of the Teesta, the Brahmaputra and the Korotoa rivers has started receding yesterday and the trend will continue, said Mokhlesur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB in the district.
A total 1,770 hectares croplands have so far been inundated since the last three days, said Masudur Rahman, DD of DAE in the district.
In Nilphamari, people of Dimla upazila are exhausted with repeated flood.
They returned home from shelter centres few days ago. They are now shifting to safe place leaving their submerged houses again.
"This year, we are going through extreme sufferings. I never faced such difficulties by flood in four phases in my life," said Alekjon Bewa, 70, of Baishpukur shoal under Dimla upazila.
In Thakurgoan and Panchagrah, public lives have been paralysed in the last three days. Many areas have been inundated while many mud houses have been collapsed.
At least 2,000 families are passing days with immense sufferings due to flood.
People of low-income group are facing double sufferings as they are remaining unemployed.
"I did not get any work in the last three days. I bought daily essentials taking loans from others. I don't know how many days we will be able to survive this way," said Horen Chandra, 52, a resident of Yakubpur village in Thakurgoan Sadar upazila.
Farmers will have to incur huge losses as their winter crops have been damaged.
"I cultivated some winter vegetables investing around Tk 70,000. But my lands have been submerged," said Babu, a resident of Farabari village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.
Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Nilphamari and Thakurgoan contributed to the report.
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