Moulvibazar flood situation worsens
Two more dykes collapse, 75 families take shelter on embankments
Flood situation in a number of villages of two upazilas under the district worsened further as fresh areas went under water due to the collapse of two flood control embankments yesterday.
The surging water washed away two flood control dykes at Kaliakona in Rajnagar and Nishchintapur in Kulaura upazila yesterday, Assistant Engineer Muklesur Rahman Talukder of Water Development Board (WDB) said.
Due to breach in the dyke, at least 75 families took shelter on different flood control embankments in Kulaura upazila.
While visiting the area yesterday, this correspondent found that some were planning to cook food for the family while some were collecting water and firewood.
Sujana Bibi, 62, who took shelter with her five-member family on Asroygram embankment, said while offering her Fazr prayers she heard a huge sound of a dyke collapsing.
“I could not complete my prayer and tried to bring out the belongings from inside my house which is now under four feet water,” she added.
Sohag Mia, 45, of the same area, said the fresh flood washed away paddy on his six bighas of land.
Mosabbir Ali, a resident of the Asroygram area, alleged that although the embankment was posing risk for the last two years, the WDB did not take any measures to prevent it from collapse.
About a month ago, local people took an initiative to repair some sections of the damaged embankment which did not even bother the WDB authorities.
Burhan Uddin, 45, of Nishchintopur area, said as the WDB did not take necessary measures to repair the damaged dykes the area was flooded for the second time within a couple of days.
Asthma Begum, who took shelter on the embankment in Iterghat area, said, “We are living here with risk as we could face accidents anytime.”
Kulaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Chowdhury Md Golam Rabbi said so far they have distributed relief worth Tk 1.8 lakh among the flood victims, which is quite inadequate.