Flash flood in Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj hits 42 villages

A man along with his child starts for a safer place on a raft as flash flood washed away their house at Char Gobordhon village in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district yesterday.Photo: STAR

Flash flood hit Lalmonirhat and Sunamganj districts rendering several thousand families marooned yesterday.
In Sylhet, flood situation marked slight improvement while a flood control dyke in Gaibandha partially collapsed threatening to inundate a number of villages any time.
At least five thousand families at 35 villages under four upazilas in Lalmonirhat have been marooned by floodwater yesterday.
Onrush of water from upstream and heavy rainl in the last 24 hours caused flash flood in the district, WDB officials said.
The Teesta crossed danger mark while the Dharla was flowing only one centimeter below red mark yesterday, they said.
The worst affected areas are Char Kurul, Mogholhat, Char Kulaghat, Char Boalmari, Rajpur, Char Kalmati, Khuniya Gachh, Char Gokunda, Char Milon Bazar villages of Sadar upazila, Mohisamuri, Char Votmari, Char Kakina, Rudreshewar and Jamirbari villages of Kaliganj upazila, Char Doani, South Goddimari, Char Sindurna, Char Dawabari, Parulia under Hatibandha upazila and Kadomtola, Balapara, Char Gobordhan villages of Aditmari upazila, they said.
While visiting Gobordhan of Aditmari upazila this correspondent found the village under knee deep water while many of the villagers took shelter on government road and WDB dam.
Mofiz Uddin,50, Shamsul Haque,36, Korban Ali,48, and others of village Gobordhan said that heavy rain in the last 24 hours and water from upstream increased the water level of the Teesta river and flooded their homes yesterday.
In Sunamganj, heavy rain coupled with onrush of hillwater triggered flash flod in the vast areas including district headquarters, rendering hundreds of families marooned.
Flood Control Cell of Sunamganj WDB said the Surma was flowing 42cm above the danger level near the district town yesterday, reports UNB.
Floodwater engulfed low-lying areas of the district town and Sadar and Tahirpur upazilas.
Besides, it entered three other upazilas- Biswambharpur, Doarabazaar and Jamalganj- on Tuesday.
Local administration said floodwater submerged l2 villages in Tahirpur rendering several hundred families marooned.
A big portion of Sunamganj municipality, including Barapara, Pashchim Bazaar, Maachh Bazaar, Shologhar and Nabinagar went under water as the rain continued, they added.
Flood situation in Sylhet region marked slight improvement during the last 24 hours.
However, onrush of water from the upstream continued amid less rainfall during the period.
Flood and disaster management minister Dr Abdur Razzaque yesterday visited the affected areas in Fenchuganj, Balaganj, Osmaninagar and Biswanath upazilas in Sylhet and Kamolganj upazila in Moulvibazar yesterday, reports our staff correspondent.
Water level in the rivers also came down yesterday although all were still flowing above danger mark at all points, official sources informed.
Our Correspondent in Gaibandha reports: At least 200 meters of Teesta flood control dyke in Sunderganj upazila collapsed yesterday due to onrush of water from upstream and increase in water level in the Teesta river.
Local water development board completed construction work of the dyke from Tarapur and Kapasia last month spending around Tk two crore 43 lakh to save over five thousand people from flooding during rainy season.
A large chunk of dyke at Nizamkha has already been collapsed and cracks developed at many other points due to heavy rain for the last three days. The dyke now turned most vulnerable and might be snapped at any time if water level increases further.
People of Nizamkha, Chachia Mirganj, Tarapur and Khorda villages are worried as the Teesta, fed by rainwater, is now flowing slightly below danger mark.
Locals along with WDB workers are trying to stop further cracks using bamboos and earth.