Overflowing rivers trigger flooding in Moulvibazar
Breaches developed at three spots of the flood control embankment on the Manu river in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar amid continuous downpour and onrush of water from the hills during the last couple of days, threatening vast areas of croplands and dwellings in several villages.
Besides, a 20-foot area of an embankment on the overflowing Dhalai river collapsed on Saturday, causing inundation of Rampasha village in Kamalganj upazila. Over 5,000 residents got stranded due to the flooding.
The Monu and the Dhalai rivers were flowing 42cm and 8cm over the danger level yesterday afternoon, said sources at Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Ten shops of Kaukapon market beside the embankment on the Manu in Kulaura upazila went into the riverbed in last week.
Around 40 shops at the market went under water in last year.
Building of makeshift shops adjacent to the embankment has affected the structure and it breached due to the pressure of water, said officials of BWDB.
Abdul Basit Bachchu, chairman of Hazipur union parishad in Kulaura, said urgent steps are needed to save vast tracts of croplands and dwelling houses in several villages of the area.
Ranendra Shankar Chakrabarty, executive engineer of BWDB in Moulvibazar, said they have marked 67 points in Sadar, Kulaura and Rajnagar upazilas, which are at risk due to erosion by the river.
A Tk 1,000 crore development project will soon be proposed to build permanent boundaries along the river embankments to check flooding in the rainy season, he said.
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