Dyke collapse makes 450 homeless in Gaibandha
Workers dismantle the concrete structure of Singria Primary School in Phuleshwari upazila of Gaibandha district in a bid to remove whatever they can as the building is on the brink of being devoured by the Jamuna.Photo: STAR
About 500 metres of Jamuna flood control dyke partially collapsed on Thursday night rendering 450 villagers shelterless in Shaghata upazila of the district. With decreasing water level in the Jamuna basin, erosion has taken a serious turn at Shaghata point. Shaghata bazar, police station, high schools, college, banks, offices and 50-bed health complex are under erosion-threat. The affected villagers have already shifted their belongings to safer places. Locals said If adequate measures are not taken immediately, the Jamuna may engulf Shaghata bazar, police station, high schools, college, banks, offices and 50-bed health complex at any moment. Contacted, Abdur Rouf, chairman of Shaghata union parishad said, this year erosion has taken an alarming turn affecting eight villages of Shaghata union. Shaghata police station, market, 50-bed heath complex, two high schools and two colleges will go into the river soon because Jamuna flood control dyke has become vulnerable. Local Water Development Board authorities have been dumping sand bags along the erosion points, but the measure failed to control erosion, said Salim Ahmed Tulip, president Shaghata Chamber of Commerce and Industry. If the dyke damages further, the entire area will go under the riverbed, said Anwar Parvez, assistant secretary of the traders' body. This year Hindus may not be unable to observe puja due to serious river erosion, said Gaitum Kumar Chanda, leader of Shaghata Puja Udjapon Parishad. Local people are trying to protect the remaining portion of the dyke by putting sand bags and bamboo, but surging water washes away those, said Hafizur Rahman, a villager. WDB workers have been dumping GO textile bags filled with sand to halt the erosion, said a field officer of WDB named Mofakkharul Islam.
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