Jamuna devours 60 homesteads overnight in Gaibandha

Workers of Water Development Board set sandbags on the bank of the Jamuna at Kamarpara village in Phulchhari upazila under Gaibandha district to save the area from the fury of the turbulent river that devoured 60 homesteads within a couple of hours early yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The River Jamuna suddenly turned violent early yesterday, devouring at least 60 homesteads overninght at Kamarpara village in Phulchhari upazila.

Many erosion victims hurriedly shifted their movable properties to safer places while others took shelter on nearby high lands.

Nitai Mohanta, a day labourer of the village, said he worke up from bed following a deafening sound around 3:00am.

The sudden erosion then washed away seven homesteads within half an hour, he said.

“As the river swelled within a second, I could not remove anything from the house,” said another victim, farmer Nurunnabi Munshi of the area.

Over 300 villagers are now worried at the situation as Phulchhari Degree College, a madrasa, an eidgah and two temples are facing erosion threat.

About 50-meter stretch of river bank was eroded within an hour, engulfing houses, structures and trees, said Monotosh Roy Mintu, chairman of Gajaria union parishad.

Local lawmaker Fazley Rabbi Mia asked the Water Development Board authorities for taking immediate steps to stop the erosion.

Gaibandha WDB executive engineer Abdul Awal Mia said  they have already started dumping sand bags to thwart the onslaught.