Jamuna devours 180 feet of Sirajganj dyke
About 180-feet area of Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment goes into the Jamuna due to erosion by the turbulent river yesterday afternoon. Photo: STAR
At least 180 feet area of Sirajganj town protection embankment collapsed yesterday triggering panic among the townspeople. Thousands of locals threw sand bags, concrete blocks and other materials in the affected area to stop erosion while a large number shifted to safer places. Workers of Water Development Board started putting sand bags and CC blocks immediately after the collapse to prevent further damages but their attempts went in vain because of strong current in the Jamuna. The divers of Bangladesh Navy said the embankment began to collapse as sand under the CC blocks moved away about 35 feet off the dyke. Water Development Board sources said at around 2:00pm yesterday the bamboo poles used at the hard point in Kazipur Ghat for protection began to surface. On information, the divers of the Bangladesh Navy deployed there tried to inspect the situation. Chief of the diving team Shahnewaz Bhuiya said the sand bags under the CC blocks were displaced by strong whirlpool forcing those to slide away. Executive Engineer Abdul Malek of Water Development Board (WDB) said they are examining the whole situation to take necessary steps. Sources said the embankment was built with a 100-year warranty, but last year it was damaged twice--on July 10 and on July 17. Panic gripped the locals following the incident, as the area of erosion was widening till filling of this report last evening. Huge number of law enforcers have been deployed in the area to face emergency situation. Thousands of local people, scared by the incident, staged demonstration accusing the WDB of failure to protect the embankment, reports UNB. Sirajganj Sadar Upazila UNO Mohammad Hossain blamed the WDB officials for negligence in performing their duties. He also told the local reporters that he would file a complaint with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
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