Fresh downpour adds to miseries of Satkhira water logging victims
40 more villages in Tala, Sadar upazilas flooded
People hit by flood and water logging in Tala upazila of Satkhira have taken shelter in make-shift huts on both sides of Satkhira-Khulna road.Photo: STAR
Fresh downpour in the last three days has added to miseries of the people suffering from months of water logging in Tala and Sadar upazilas. Due to the impact of rain, waters from the silted Kobadak and Betna rivers entered the area overflowing their banks and inundating 40 more villages in the two upazilas. Over 100,000 more people under two unions in Tala upazila and five unions in Sadar upazila are now marooned by flood water, officials said. Vast tracts of land under Sarulia and Nagarghata in Tala upazila and Labsa, Balli and Jhowdanga unions in Sadar upazila fell victims to fresh water logging, they said. Crops on several thousands acres of land have been threatened while the affected people will be passing miserable days due to scarcity of food, drinking water and medicines as rainwater and waters entering into the area can not go back to the silted river. Over four lakh flood affected people in Tala and Sadar upazilas are already suffering for want of relief materials as those supplied by the government are scanty. Meanwhile, skin diseases and other intestinal diseases have broken out in the water-logged areas. A large number of patients are being treated at Satkhira Sadar Hospital and Tala and Kalaroa upazila health complexes. Over 130,000 homeless people of about 22,854 families have taken shelter in makeshift huts on both sides of Satkhira-Khulna, Paikgachha- Khulna roads and also on high lands, sources said. The homeless people and cattle and poultry birds are staying together in makeshift huts increasing the threat of diseases. Study of the flood affected students is being hampered as they can not reside with their parents. Besides, most the schools remained closed as those are still under water. While visiting some flood affected areas of the two upazilas on Sunday, this correspondent saw thousands of people passing days in hardship for lack of relief materials. “We are almost fasting for want of relief,” said Mohammad Ali of Kalapota village in Tala upazila. According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources, over 8,04,244 people in 66 unions in seven upazilas have been affected by the flood. The government so far sanctioned 1,700 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 19 lakh for the flood affected people till September 30. Contacted, acting Satkhira deputy commissioner (DC) Mukesh Chandra Biswas said, he has already written to the higher authorities to sanction 46,000 VGF cards and Tk 31,18,00, 000 house building grants for the affected people.
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