Thousands marooned as 50 Bhola villages inundated
Incessant downpour for the last few days coupled with onrush on hilly water has marooned two lakhs of people at 50 villages in Bhola.
Moreover, tidal surge has damaged a number of flood protection embankments in the district worsening the situation during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, over one lakh people in Lalmonirhat district are facing food and pure drinking water scarcity as rains and onrush water from river upstream in India have flooded 80 villages in Hatibandha, Aditmari, Kaliganj, Patgram and Sadar upazilas of the district.
BHOLA
The tidal water damaged one kilometre long flood protection embankment at Syedpur union in Daulatkhan upazila, marooning about at least 600 families, news agency UNB reports.
All kinds of establishments in the area, including schools, madrasas, mosques, temples and fish farms went under water because of the strong tidal surge over the last couple of days.
In Charfashion upazila, about 3.5km flood protection embankment at Madras union became vulnerable due to the lack of repair and maintenance by the WDB.
As a result, around 40 villages in seven unions of the upazila were inundated at the advent of this rainy season.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), about 4,250 hectare cultivable lands in Charfashion upazila remain under water during the last one month, leading to a loss worth Tk 20 crore.
In Monpura upazila, people of Hajipur, Monpura, Dakkhin Sakuchia and Uttar Sakuchia unions have also been affected by the tidal surge.
Contacted, Abdul Hakim, executive engineer of WDB in Bhola, said the embankments cannot be repaired until the next dry season.
As the embankments need to shield the strong currents of the Meghna River, they will not remain intact if repaired during the rainy season, he added.
LALMONIRHAT
People of flood hit areas are yet to get any relief from the government or from any non government organisation.
Some people have taken shelter on government schools and colleges but most of the affected people are still reeling under water.
The water of Teesta and Dharla rivers has been receded in last 12 hours. The Teesta water was flowing only two centimeters above its danger level at Teesta Barrage point of Hatibandha upazila while the Dharla one centimeter below of the danger mark at Non-Khawa ghat point in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila till this morning, as per WDB office in Lalmonirhat.
Sub-Divisional Engineer in WDB of Lalmonirhat office Al-Mamun said the flood water will come down by the next 24 hours if there is no rain today.
The people living on Teesta River basin at Gobordhan Char village said they are having dry foods only as they could not cook due to stagnant water.
Nabir Hossain, 48, of Chander Char village in Aditmari upazila, said, "We, the poor people, are reeling under Teesta water and have been living in an inhuman life since Friday night.”
“We have no scope to cook our meal as we are surrounded by water. So, we need dry food like flattened and puffed rice,” he said.
Contacted, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman said relief materials will be distributed among the affected people of the five upazilas tomorrow and Tuesday.
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