Flood hits four upazilas in Moulvibazar

Members of a flood-affected family of Kamalganj upazila under Moulvibazar district move to a safer place yesterday. Floods triggered by days-long downpour and onrush of water from the hills across the Indian border have affected large areas in the district. PHOTO: STAR

The low-lying areas in Sadar, Rajnagar, Kulaura and Kamalganj upazilas of the district have been inundated due to heavy rain for the last one week and onrush of water from hills across the border.
Control room officials of Water Development Board (WDB) said around 1,000 families of the char areas of the four upazilas have been marooned.
The water levels of Monu and Dholai rivers are flowing over the danger levels and at least 25 embankments of the two rivers are on the verge of collapse.
Nazmul Haque, chairman of Kamarchak Union Parishad (UP) in Rajnagar upazila said floodwaters have entered many villages of the union, affecting at least 300 families.
On information, WDB officials visited the spot but did not take any measures to protect the dykes, he added.
Locals said, the homeless people have taken shelter on nearby flood protection embankments and other safer places. They are living under the open sky and facing crisis of food and pure drinking water.
Over 200 families in Minarai, Kunagaon, Nondogram, Chanpur, Jogonnathpur, Dhupatila, Dokhin Potonusar villages have been marooned in the low-lying areas, said Selim Uddin Chowdhury, chairman of Potanusar UP in Kamalganj upazila.
Md Jahidul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer in Kamalganj said about 300 families from different villages of the upazila have been affected by the flood.
Syed Bazlul Karim, deputy divisional engineer of WDB in Moulvibazar said at least 25 dykes in Sharifpur union in Kulaura upazila, Monumukh union in Sadar upazila and Potonusar union in Kamalganj upazila are at risk.