Sluice gate collapse floods 20 villages in Gaibandha

At least 20 villages under three unions of Saghata upazila have been inundated as a sluice gate on the bank of the Jamuna River collapsed due to surging water.

The onrush of water from upstream broke through the two-vent sluice gate on Thursday, submerging over 600 hectares of crop lands in Saghata, Haldia and Jumarbari villages and marooning over a thousand people. Jute plants and aman seedlings on the lands had gone under water.

"My aman seedlings on two bighas of land are getting damaged under water, and it will be difficult for me to transplant aman seedlings again," said Abdul Hye, a farmer of Jumarbari.

"Jute plants on my five bighas of land have gone under water," said Abdul Gafur, a farmer of Chinir Potal village.

Blaming the Water Development Board (WDB), Haldia Union Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the sluice gate collapsed due to utter negligence of WDB. If they had undertaken precautionary measures, the sluice gate might have been saved, he added.

Saghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shafiuzzaman Bhuyian said the people affected by the collapse of Kanaipara sluice gate will be rehabilitated. A list of the affected people is being prepared, the UNO added.