Flash flood in Barisal, tidal water enters Patuakhali
Fishing boats and trawlers lie idle at Fringibazar Bridge terminal in Chittagong yesterday as the sea remains rough due to a depression over the Bay.Photo: STAR
Flash flood caused by heavy downpour hit at least 50 villages in Barisal while tidal water flooded five villages in Patuakhali in the last two days. The flash flood in Barisal followed continuous downpour and onrush of water from upstream, reports UNB. The district relief and rehabilitation office said, at least 50 villages and shoals of five upazilas of the district went under water. A large number of people in the affected areas of Mehendiganj, Hizla, Muladi, Wazirpur and Agoiljhara have taken shelter on high land and in educational institutions, upazila administration sources said. In Patuakhali, at least five villages under Aila-hit Mirzaganj upazila were inundated as the flood control embankment on the Payra river collapsed at different points during high tide on Monday and Tuesday. The tidal water rose above the normal level, reports our correspondent. It was flowing at 2.60 metre which is 0.60 metre higher than usual level, according to Water Development Board officials. Mobarak Ali Munshi, UP chairman of Subidkhali UP told this correspondent that several areas of the 7 km-long flood control embankment washed away as high tide hit the coast. The dam was earlier affected by both cyclones Sidr and Aila, he said. At least five villages--Mehendiabad, Ranipur, Charkhali, Golkhali and Hajikhali-- were inundated as tidal water entered through the breaches, he added. Md Shahjahan, upazila agriculture officer of Mirzaganj told this correspondent that Aus paddy on at least 1,000 acres went under tidal water. “A vast tract of crop field will be affected due to saline water and silt,” he said. Contacted, Siddiqur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB said, “We hope that repair of the embankment will start by next month”.
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