Heavy rain triggers flood
Aman fields went under water in four upazilas as heavy rain for the last four days triggered flash flood in Lalmonirhat, right, low-lying Mulatola area of Rangpur city.Photo: STAR
Heavy rain for the last four days coupled with onrush of water from the upstream have triggered flash flood in 60 villages of four upazilas, leaving at least 50,000 people marooned. Low lying areas of Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Sadar upazilas in Teesta and Dharla rivers basin have gone under water, said an official of Water Development Board (WDB) sources. “Water levels of the rivers have been increasing alarmingly and if it continues for the next 24 hours, over 2 lakh people of the areas will be affected”, he added. Floodwater has already damaged Aman paddy on vast tracts of land, he said. The flood affected villagers in 16 unions of the upazilas are suffering for acute crisis of drinking water and foods, sources said. The unions are Bawra, Kuchlibari in Patgram upazila, Bhotmari, Kakina in Kaliganj upazila, Goddimari, Sindurna, Dawabari, Patikapara in Hatibandha upazila, Mohishkhocha, Durgapur in Aditmari upazila and Khuniyagachh, Rajpur, Gokunda, Mogolhat and Kulaghat in Sadar upazila. In Rangpur, heavy rain in the last four days paralysed normal life in the city, causing immense sufferings to the dwellers. Low lying areas of eight upazilas have gone under knee-deep water, reports our correspondent. Of them, the most affected upazilas are Gangachhara, Taraganj, Pirgachha and Kaunia Rangpur Met office recorded 171.8mm from Thursday to yesterday. The city roads inundated by rain water at Senpara, Babukha, Shalban, Satgara Mistripara, Mulatol, Munshipara, Jummapara, Guratipara, Goneshpur and Honumantala. Traders at different markets kept their shutters down as rainwater entered the shops and caused water-logging in the areas. Busy city and the upazila headquarters roads remained under water even after light to moderate rainfall due to lack of proper drainage system as almost all the natural streams and canals have been encroached by the land grabbers. Rickshaw pullers were seen demanding excessive fare from the passengers taking advantages of the inclement weather. Prices of essentials especially vegetables shot up in the kitchen markets due to heavy downpour.
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