Dwellings and farmlands of seven villages in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur are under threat of erosion as the Teesta started flowing in its old direction after years.

Link roads of a bridge in the area has been washed away due to the erosion a few days ago.

Another bridge on Rangpur-Lalmonirhat road is under threat due to the strong current, said locals, adding that movement of vehicles on the route will be disrupted if the bridge is damaged. 

More than 1,000 families of seven villages are in fear of losing their houses due to the erosion triggered by the change of river flow.

Besides, several notable structures, including those of schools, madrasas, and mosques will face extinction if timely action is not taken, said villagers during this correspondent's visit to the area.

In Gangachara upazila, hundreds of people, mostly living close to the riverbanks, change their location every year due to the erosion.

"We the people of Gangachara are quite accustomed to the suffering due to river erosion," said Julekha Begum of Shankardaha village, who changed home on several occasions in the past.

Like her, many people of the seven villages, namely, Ichli, Kolkanda, Binbina, Pashchim Ichli, Purbo Ichli, Shankardaha and Kashiabari started shifting their belongings to a safer place as the river erosion intensified in the last ten days after the change of the river course.

Shankardaha village has nearly disappeared while dwellings of 600 families of Purbo and Pashchim Ichli villages are on the verge of extinction due to the dangerous river erosion, said locals.

A concrete road at Binbina village was also washed away due to the erosion.

Locals on August 11 formed a human chain at SK Bazar in the upazila, where they demanded that the Water Development Board (WDB) arrange putting sandbags and afterwards build a five-km-long embankment from Sheikh Hasina Bridge via Ichli Char-Kolkonda to Binbina to prevent erosion.

"Like many others, I have taken shelter at Gannarpar in Rangpur's Sadar upazila as the Teesta devoured my house. I had relocated my house three times in the last two years due to the river erosion," said Masud Rana of Ichli village.

The affected people, who are mostly from impoverished communities, are worried as they have to find a safer shelter with their family members, he said.

Shafiqul Islam, a farmer of Ichli, said he relocated his family to a safer

place at nearby Kakina village.

"I had been staying at Ichli village for last 24 years as there was no erosion. This village will no longer exist if the ongoing erosion continues," he said.

Abdullah Al Hadi, chairman of Laxmitari union parishad, said suffering

of hundreds of people could have been everted if a river embankment was

built.

Mehdi Hasan, WDB's executive engineer in Rangpur, said, "We are aware of the situation. WDB will start work in the dry season."