One lakh people marooned

Water level has risen in Hakaluki and Kawadighi haors due to continuous rain during the last few days and onrush of water from the hills, leaving about 100,000 people marooned in the district.

The affected 50,000 people are from Sadar and Rajnagar upazilas while 50,000 others in Kulaura, Juri and Barlekha upazilas of the district.

Three upazilas -- Kulaura, Juri and Barlekha – were inundated during the last two days following the fresh onrush of water from the hills.

Nearly two hundred families of eight unions in Sadar and Rajnagar upazilas have moved to eight shelter centres.

Locals said Boro crops were washed away in the haor during the flood in April.

In June, heavy rain and hilly water again flooded the area. The water started to recede from the middle of July, they added.

The flood situation has deteriorated in Aktuna and Akhialkura unions of Sadar upazila due to the heavy downpour and hailstorm in the last few days, and at least 20,000 people have become marooned. Shelter centres have been opened in Uluail Madrasa and Barakapan Government Primary School in Aktuna union and in Kadipur Government Primary School in Akhialkura union. Around 168 families have taken shelter in the three centres.

Road communication between Moulvibazar and Barlekha has been snapped as the roads linking the district headquarters have been inundated. 

Alamgir Hossain of Rasulpur village in Akhialkura union said all the roads have become submerged and communication has been cut-off. There is no house in the area that is not submerged by floodwater, he added.

“The situation in my union is very bad. Three wards are completely cut-off. Around 50 families have taken shelter in the centres in the last few days,” Akhialkura Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Salim Ahmad said.

“Two shelters have been opened in my union. Besides, people have taken shelter in relatives' houses. Two-thirds of the union's area is flooded,” Aktuna UP Chairman Md Abu Sufian said.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Iqbal Hossain said 30 tonnes of rice have been allocated for the two unions.

Meanwhile, many areas of Fatehpur, Panchgaon, Munshibazar, Uttarbagh, Munsurnagar and Rajnagar unions in Rajnagar upazila have been flooded. About 30,000 people have been affected and 25 families have taken shelter in Sarampur Government Primary School, Kamalpur Government Primary School, Uttar Atheni Government Primary School, Betahunja Government Primary School and Panchgaon High School in the upazila.

Munshibazar UP Chairman Md Salek Mia said around 6,000 people of Medinimahal, Nidanpur, Sonatki, Gazir Bazar villages have been affected and people are taking shelter in schools.

Fatehpur UP Chairman Nokul Chandra Das said water has inundated his office premises. Some families have taken shelter at North Andheri School, he added.

Rajnagar UNO Md Shariful Islam said water level in the haor has risen by seven to eight inches, adding that five shelters have been opened. The worst condition is in Fatehpur, Panchgaon and Munshibazar unions, he said. Taka 2 lakh and 30 tonnes of rice were allocated for the flood victims by the district administration, Shariful said.

"Water cannot flow out from haor as water of the Kushiarah river is blocking the outlet,” said Moulvibazar Water Development Board Executive Engineer Bijoy Indra Shankar Chakrabarty.