Another embankment collapses in Khulna

A hapless family, boarded onto a boat with belongings, starts an unsure journey for shelter after their home was flooded following collapse of an embankment at Joynagor in Dakope upazila of Khulna district on Wednesday. Photo: STAR

Erosion by River Dhaki damaged one more embankment at Jainagar village of Kamarkhola union under Dakope upazila of Khulna district on Wednesday, rendering at least 600 families of eight villages homeless.
The embankment constructed by Water Development Board (WDB) last month collapsed at 5:30pm on Wednesday when Food Minister Abdur Razzak was visiting Aila-affected Dakope upazila to distribute VGF rice.
Earlier on Monday night and Tuesday morning, two other embankments in Sutarkhali and Kamarkhola unions under Dakope upazila collapsed, flooding 18 villages.
Around 10,600 families have become homeless as 26 villages of Dakope upazila are flooded due to collapse of three newly constructed embankments in last 72 hours.
Several thousand people including men, women and children have taken shelter on any available places that are yet to be flooded.
The eight villages affected by Wednesday's flooding are Jainagar, Rajnagor, Jelakhali, Channir Chawk, Parjoinagar, Shibnagar, Fakirdanga and Srinagar.
WDB Engineer Anowar Hossain, who supervised construction of the embankments last month, said breaches developed in the three embankments as furious tides of Dhaki River rose up to five to six feet higher than normal levels.
Dakope UNO Kazi Atiur Rahman and upazila Chairman Sheikh Abul Hossain insisted on their earlier allegation that there were flaws in construction work of embankments as materials specified in the tender schedule were not used.
WDB Engineer Anowar Hossain was responsible to monitor whether the contractors concerned followed the terms and conditions of tender schedule, they said.
Shukjan Bibi, 60, wife of fisherman Shawrup Sarder, was washed away at 3:30pm on Wednesday at Kalabogi village under Dakope upazila as Shibsha River suddenly devoured part of a newly constructed embankment on which she was walking.
The government has allocated Tk 2 crore 50 lakh under cash-for-work programme for Aila-affected Dakope upazila, Food Minister Abdur Razzak said while visiting the flooded villages on Wednesday.
The government will continue to provide farmers with food assistance as long as they need it, he said.