Floodwater inundates more areas

Flood water has triggered erosion in some places, while fresh areas have been inundated in few regions intensifying public sufferings.

In Tangail, erosion hit on the Tangail town protection embankment at several spots in Sadar upazila due to huge current on the Pungli river, a branch of Jamuna.

About 20 meters stretch of the important embankment at Pachh Bethoir area under Gala union in Sadar upazila was damaged on Tuesday morning. Cracks were also created at several other places on the embankment.

If the important embankment is collapsed anyhow, the district town and a part of the adjacent Basail upazila will be flooded.

While visiting the spot, this correspondent saw the Water Development Board was trying to check the erosion on the embankment dumping GEO bags.

Imdadul Haque, a sub-divisional engineer of WDB in Tangail, who was supervising the works, told The Daily Star that the embankment was damaged due to pressure of bitter current on the river.

"However, water cannot enter through the damaged portion right now as the houses opposite side of it are high. Now, we are dumping GEO bags to another crack created nearby as water can enter through it," he added.

Sirajul Islam, executive engineer of WDB in Tangail, told The Daily Star that cracks were created on several places on the embankment at Gala union after increasing water level of the Pungli river.

"We are dumping necessary GEO bags as emergency measures to protect the embankment," he said.

"The flood situation may deteriorate within the next few days and we are remained vigilance to protect important flood protection embankments in the district," he added.

Ataul Gani, deputy commissioner in Tangail, along with the WDB officials, already visited the embankment. The DC told journalists that necessary measures were taken as the floodwater cannot enter the district town after collapsing the embankment anyhow.

"We have also kept our eyes for 24 hours on the important embankment in the district as these cannot collapse despite of further deterioration of the flood situation," he added.

In Sirajganj, many new areas have been flooded as the Jamuna river was flowing above the danger level.

Around 3.38 lakh people in six upazilas are still marooned. The victims are fearing further deterioration of the situation.

The river was flowing 61 cm above the danger level at the hard point, said AKM Rafikul Islam, sub divisional engineer of Sirajganj water development board (WDB).

In Munshiganj, ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route were disrupted for last few days due to huge current on the Padma.

Only five ferries operated among 14 yesterday. More than 300 vehicles were waiting for the crossing and passengers are in trouble due to the disruption of ferry services.

The Padma was flowing 75 cm above the danger mark at Bhaggyakul point yesterday. Around 20,000 families in 104 villages are suffering for flood.

Our Tangail and Pabna correspondents contributed to this report.