Continued flood brings woe to people in districts

The flood situation in Sunamganj is worsening as flash flood and heavy rainfall continue, and in Kurigram, the Brahmaputra and the Dharla rivers are flowing above the danger mark. In Dimla upazila of Nilphamari around 500 families have taken shelter on the flood control dam as the Teesta River continues to ravage the area. In Lalmonirhat, erosion by the Teesta and Dharla rivers has taken a serious turn with the drop in the water level. In Gaibandha, the rising water in the Teesta and Jamuna basin has inundated homesteads and vast areas of croplands.

In Sunamganj, the Surma was flowing 93cm above danger level at Sologhar point in the district and 110mm of rainfall was recorded yesterday, the weather office and the Water Development Board (WDB) said.

Badrul Kadir Shihab, vice chairman of Sunamganj Sadar upazila, said, "The flash flood entered the town via Kazir Point, Saheber Bazar Ghat, Nabinagar and Launch Ghat. Hundreds of houses have gone under water and a number of business establishments have been closed."

The people living in the haor areas are mostly dependent on farming and fishing, and they have become almost workless due to the flood. Moreover, sand and stone quarries have been closed, which has made around 50 thousand labourers jobless.

The road from Sunamganj Sadar to Tahirpur upazila and many roads in seven upazilas have been badly damaged in several places.

In Doarabazar upazila, road communication between Banglabazar and Narshingpur union has been cut-off. Chhatak, Bishwambarpur and some other upazilas are almost cut-off from the district headquarters.

The flash flood also breached some of the protection dams, including Khasiamara Dam of Doarabazar, on Tuesday, causing water logging in 20 villages of the upazila.

Angur Miah, 45, of Bhatapara village under Dharmapasha upazila, said, heavy rain and flash flood hits the upazila on Tuesday and the situation is worsening day by day. "This is the time for fishing in the haors, but we are helpless as excessive water stops us from fishing."

Tarek Ahmed of Tahirpur upazila said, "This year, we lost our paddy to the flash flood, now we are losing the hope of fishing in the season."

Deepak Kumar Das, sub-divisional engineer of Sunamganj WDB, said, "As the flooding is continuing, the situation has turned serious. If the heavy rain and flooding continue, it may cause a medium level flood in the district."

Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, said, "Instructions have been given to all upazila nirbahi officers to make a list of the affected areas and families to ensure relief and other kinds of support for them. If the water logging continues for a few days more, we may announce an emergency."

The flood situation in Kurigram has worsened as the Brahmaputra was flowing 30cm above the danger level in Chilmari Ghat point in Chilmari upazila, while the Dharla was flowing 30cm above danger level at Dharla Bridge point in Sadar upazila of the district yesterday, said an official of the Kurigram WDB.

Around 70 thousand people of over 250 char and island-char areas of 40 unions under seven upazilas of the district were marooned as those areas of the Brahmaputra and the Dharla rivers got flooded due to downpour and onrush of water from upstream for the last five days.

Marooned people wait for relief at Bagdora village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. PHOTO: STAR

"Guzimari Government Primary School in Guzimari Char area of Hatia union has been washed away by the Brahmaputra, while Dagorkuthi Government Primary School at Char Dagorkuthi village is threatened by erosion. The river has marooned around three thousand people of nine villages. Most of the flood-hit people are facing acute crisis of drinking water, fuel and cattle fodder," said Abul Hossen, chairman of Hatia union under Ulipur upazila.   

"About 10 thousand people of 12 char areas have been marooned by floodwater of the Brahmaputra. Most of them are residents of low-lying char areas, who have taken shelter on the nearest high homesteads. No relief from government or non-governmental organisations has reached them, though they are facing a crisis of food, fuel and drinking water," said Ayub Ali, chairman of Jattrapur union under Kurigram Sadar upazila.

Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, deputy commissioner of Kurigram, said, "Ninety tonnes of rice and Tk 2,75,000 have been allocated for all the nine upazilas. They will be distributed among the flood victims."

Our correspondent in Nilphamari reports that a large number of people from nine villages of Teesta river basin in Dimla upazila have taken shelter on different structures of the WDB as the Teesta continues to devastate the crowded locality. Around 500 families have taken shelter at the WDB's Dalia divisional office.

More families, many of them solvent, were seen coming there for shelter through Teesta river on shallow engine-run boats packed with furniture, utensils, dismantled tin roofs, pillars, cattle, chickens, cattle fodder etc.

Anwar Hosen, 55, of Char Kharibari village under Tepakharibari union, who took shelter on the dam yesterday, cried out saying, "Even two days ago, I could take care of my family but the monster Teesta devoured everything, making me a beggar overnight."

"Now, I don't know what to do and where to go as WDB will not allow us to stay here for a long time," said Fazar Ali of Tapur village.

Many affected people alleged that they have to pass the days under open sky, and most of their stock of dry food is finished.

Rabiul Islam Shahin, chairman of Tepakharibari union said the 150-metre wide new channel, originating from Char Kharibari village and passing through the locality for about six kilometers, again merges with the main river near Teesta barrage at Doani.

"It has devoured about 22 thousand acres of cultivable land and 500 homesteads, 5 schools, 4 bridges, and rural roads, making one thousand families homeless," he added.

"We don't want relief, but a dam at the channel's mouth, which may pave the way for return to our villages," said Insan Ali, a victim from Char Kharibari.

Mostafizur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB in Dalia division, said, "We have sent a proposal to the higher authorities in Dhaka for constructing a 300-metre-long dam to stop onrush of water through the new channel."

Nayema Tabassum, upazila relief and disaster management officer, said dry food or rice with curry is being distributed among the victims.

In Lalmonirhat, the Teesta and Dharla rivers have started devouring homesteads, orchards and croplands at many villages, but no steps have been taken by the Lalmonirhat WDB for checking erosion, primarily due to fund constraints. The Dharla is eroding Lalmonirhat-Fulbari road at Char Kulaghat area of Kulaghat union under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, disrupting communication, locals said. 

Amzad Hossain, 45, of Etapota village under Lalmonirhat Sadar, said at least 20 homesteads, four fruit orchards and over 100 bighas of croplands have been devoured by the river Dharla in the last two days. "I and five members of my family have been rendered homeless as our homestead has been devoured," he said.

"I had a banana orchard on eight bighas of land, but one-third of the orchard has already been devoured by the Dharla in the last two days," said Hasimul Islam, 48, of the village. "I don't know how I will save the remaining orchards, which are also under threat of erosion," he added.

Shamsul Islam, 50, of Char Kulaghat village under Lalmonirhat Sadar, said the Dharla has eroded about 500-metres of the Lalmonirhat-Fulbari road and is continuing to do so. "Due to the erosion, communication has become very difficult," he added.

Sultan Ahmed, sub-divisional engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Lalmonirhat, said WDB will take steps to check erosion to save the road.

Habibur Rahman Habib, chairman of Mogholhat Union Parishad, said he has asked the WDB authorities to take immediate steps to check erosion, but to no avail. "Erosion by the river Dharla has turned serious at eight villages in my union," he added.

Abu Bakkar, executive engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat, said WDB officials are visiting erosion vulnerable areas. "Due to fund constraints, it is not possible to check erosion in all affected areas," he said, adding that he will write to the higher authorities concerned for funds.

Sharp increase in water level in the Teesta and Jamuna basin inundated vast areas of croplands and homesteads in char lands in Gaibandha yesterday reports our correspondent.

Authorities shut down 60 educational institutes in char lands of Gaibandha Sadar, Sundarganj, Fulchari and Shaghata upazilas, as they went under knee to waist deep water.

At least 6 thousand people in Teesta char lands have been marooned due to onrush of water from upstream. With the increasing water level, erosion by the Teesta intensified at 12 points, rendering 150 families shelterless during the last two days.

Road communication in remote areas has been disrupted as water is overflowing the roads at many points.