Swelling Jamuna brings worries of flood, erosion in Sirajganj

Rising water level in the Jamuna threatens to exacerbate Sirajganj with flood and river erosion.

At present, most shoal areas of the river have been submerged under water.

Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj, however, said there is nothing to be worried about as of yet.

Jamuna is flowing 45 centimetres under danger level at Sirajganj hard point, while 65 centimetres below danger level in Kazipur till yesterday morning, WDB informed.

"Due to heavy rainfall in Assam (India), Jamuna has been swelling over the last five days, raising the water level rapidly," said Ranajit Kumar, sub divisional engineer of WDB in Sirajganj.

Water level is expected to be increasing over the next two to three days and may reach close to danger level but there is nothing to be worried about flood at this moment, he also said.

"Jamuna swelled up several times last month but the water is yet to cross danger level."

Meanwhile, thousands of people are left marooned as around 50 shoal lands went under flood water in Sirajganj Sadar, Chowhali, Kazipur, Shahzadpur and Belkuchi upazilas in the district, the official informed.

People living in mainland are safe from flood at present, he added.

This correspondent visited different shoals in Chowhali and Shahzadpur upazilas in last couple of days and found several thousand people left marooned or homeless due to rising water level and continuous river erosion.

"I have lost my homestead and shop a month ago when water level started rising in early July. I am yet to find a place in the shoal area to rebuild my house as flood water has inundated the entire shoal land," said Md Mosharaf Hossain of Char-Salimabad village in Chowhali upazila.

Md Abdur Rahim of Dhubuli village, who took shelter in Chanduir of Omarpur union, recounted the same ordeal.

People living in the shoals said even after two months flood water is yet to recede, and the situation is unlikely to change for next two or three months.

"The water is everywhere. We are living in hardship having no work due to the flood water," said Afsar Bhuian, a resident of Bonnir Char under Sirajganj Sadar upazila.

Mazeda Khatun of Dogasi Kawakola Char said she is struggling to survive in the flood situation but no help has reached them so far.

Md Aktaruzzaman, relief and rehabilitation officer in Sirajganj, however, said they have received no report about flood-hit people yet.