Flash flood in Netrakona

Hundreds of inhabitants, specially school and college goers, of different villages under Nazirpur union in Netrakona's Kalmakanda upazila have been suffering a lot since a portion of Nalchapra-Baluchara road was washed away in the recent flood.

There are five educational institutions along the Nalchapra-Baluchara road, which is the only way of communication with Kalmakanda upazila headquarters, locals said, adding that people's suffering has mounted in recent days since direct communication is snapped.

Headmaster of Sacred Heart High School Charles Nokrek said there are some 450 students in his school and most of them use the road to reach their institution, but due to present condition of the road they are the worst sufferers.

Md Aminul Islam, headmaster of Baluchara Government Primary School, said the important road, which is surrounded by the Goneshwari river, is  washed away every year.

As the Indian border is only three-kilometre away from the area, the river overflows due to the onrush of water from the hills frequently, he said.

The school was elected as the second best institution under Dhaka division in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the headmaster said, adding that the present condition of communication has lessened the students' presence.

Locals said due to the recent flash floods, nearly 500 farmers of Nalchapra, Baluchara, Uttar Ranigaon, Gajarmari, Rahimpur and Bheluatola villages have lost standing crops on vast tracts of land this year.

Farmer Biren Hajong of Nalchapra village said he will have to suffer a serious loss as Aman paddy on his one acre land was completely damaged in the recent flood.

Siddique Mia of the village said Aman crop on his four acres of land was totally damaged this season.

Kalmakanda Upazila Parishad Chairman Fakrul Islam Firoz said the road, which was repaired spending over Tk two lakh after it broke down at the same spot last year, was washed away again this year.

He also suggested the authorities concerned to construct a bridge there to cope with the huge pressure of hill water.