Teesta onslaught renders 170 families homeless in 3 days

Erosion by the Teesta River has taken a serious turn in Sundarganj upazila of the district, leaving at least 170 families homeless in the last three days.

The situation has turned violent with onrush of water from upstream. The worst affected areas are Haripur ghat, Kashim Bazaar, Raghob, Char Madaripara, Lalchamar, Porer Char, and Kapasia.

Croplands, homesteads, trees and plants have been eroded during the period, said local people.

"Within the last 24 hours, my one and a half bighas of cropland had gone into the river. I may loss my three decimals of homestead any time," said Lokman Ali, a peasant of Haripur ghat in the upazila.

Hafizur Rahaman, a day labourer of village Raghob in Haripur union said, "My homestead on two and a half decimals of land was eroded by the river on Saturday night. Neighbours helped me to shift household articles to a safer place."

"Everyday, a large number of erosion-hit people are seen shifting their belongings to safer places. Many of them have taken shelter on the flood control dyke, erecting makeshift shelters. They are suffering from lack of food and pure drinking water," said Bidhut Kumar Dev Sarma, member of Haripur Union Parishad.

The list of the erosion-affected victims has been sent to the concerned authority for allocation of relief materials, which will be distributed as soon we receive it, said Abdul Hye Milton, Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).