Residents in Faridpur town face erosion threat
About a hundred families of Khabaspur Karalpara area in Faridpur town are passing days in panic as sudden erosion by the Kumar river has devoured homesteads and fresh areas within couple of days.
Locals said last week three concrete houses with several rooms, kitchen and toilets went to the river bed within a span of two days.
Suddenly erosion by the Kumar river, flowing along parts of the town, started in the early morning of December 26.
They said within a span of only two days about one kilometre area, stretching from one Nani Biswas's house to Samsul Ulum Madrasa, was devoured by the river.
Besides, three tin-shed concrete houses belonging to late Khabir Hawladar, Nurul Islam and Abdur Razzk were either completely or partially washed away due to the sudden erosion.
During a visit to the area this correspondent saw numerous cracks have been developed on vast areas along the bank of the river which poses serious erosion treat to nearby around one hundred houses and cropland on the north side.
Of them, house of at least 40 families are at high risk of being eroded anytime.
Housewife Sathi Akter said, "The sudden erosion started on December 26 and devoured our three living houses, kitchen and two bathrooms by December 28."
Another resident Nurul Islam said, "My two leaving house and a kitchen room along with 20-feet long and 60-feet wide area of the river bank had already been washed away by the river."
Zahidur Rahman of the area said they were passing sleepless night as their homestead is on the verge of collapse after being hit by the sudden erosion.
Mizanur Rahman, councillor of Word No 13 under Faridpur municipality, said if the erosion is not checked, more houses will devoured in future.
Locals alleged that apart from measuring the area the WDB did nothing in the last couple of days.
They said during a visit to the area Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar told them that local administration has been preparing a list of affected families.
Water Development Board Executive Engineer Partha Protim Saha said, "Actually, the organic soil of the area might have subsided and then collapsed due to landslide or earthquakes."
They were taking measures to protect the risky areas, he said, adding that they have already sent a project proposal worth Tk 50 lakh to the ministry concerned.
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