Over 30,000 marooned in the north

Over 30,000 people in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat find themselves marooned as the ongoing flood continues to submerge low-lying areas of this region.

At least 26 rivers in the northern region, including the Brahmaputra, the Teesta, the Dharla, the Dudhkumar, and the Gangadhar, started swelling towards danger level.

The Water Development Board (WDB) said the water may cross danger levels anytime.

Some 35 islands on the bank of the Brahmaputra in Kurigram and 15 islands on the bank of the Teesta in Lalmonirhat were inundated in floodwater yesterday.

A large number of sand-filled geo bags being piled up to protect a school in Bogura’s Sariakandi upazila. Photo: Collected

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Saidul Arif said around 25,000 people remained waterlogged in 35 islands of the district.

A full-fledged flood may be in the making as the rivers are swelling, he said.

"We have all-out preparations to deal with the potential situation," he added.

Meanwhile, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ullah said around 5,000 people remained stranded in 15 islands of the district.

The authorities were taking preparations to protect lives and properties in case of a flood, he added.

Talking to The Daily Star on Wednesday afternoon, Abdul Gafur, chairman of Kurigram Sadar said people were moving to safer places by boat from the union.

"Many houses got submerged. In a few days, the water may engulf all houses in the island areas," he said.

Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of WDB in Kurigram, said rain coupled with onrush waters from the upstream could raise the water above danger level anytime.

"Sand-filled geo bags are being dumped at critical points to stave off erosion."

Meanwhile, WDB is trying to save a primary school in Bogura's Sariaknadi upazila from erosion triggered by swelling rivers.

The Jamuna river has been swelling over the past few days, threatening the school in Chaluabari union of Sariakhandi.

Nazmul Haque, executive engineer of WDB, said they were trying to protect the school by dumping geo bags near the establishment.

The water in the Jamuna is flowing 50cm below the danger level at Mothurapara point in the upazila, WDB officials said.

Shawkat Ali Sarkar, chairman of Chaluabari Union Parishad in Bogura, said people in the union were at a loss due to the erosion.

The swelling of the Jamuna river inundated five villages including Norpara, Norshongda, Manikputul, Rowmari and Goalerchar, in Jamalpur's Sarishabari upazila.

[Our Bogura, Jamalpur and Lalmonirhat correspondents contributed to this report]