Thousands waterlogged in Kurigram as Dharla, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra rivers overflow
Paddy, jute, maize, kaun and vegetable fields of about five hundred hectares of land have been submerged in the floodwaters. Besides, more than two hundred families have lost their land due to river erosion
The flood situation in Kurigram is deteriorating fast as the Dharla, Dudhkumar and Brahmaputra rivers are flowing above the danger level.
According to the 3pm information from the Flood Control Room of the Kurigram Water Development Board, the water of the Dharla River rose by 31cm in the last 24 hours and is flowing 46cm above the danger level near the Dharla Bridge Point.
During this time, the water of the Dudhkumar also rose 31cm and is flowing 28cm above the danger level at Nunkhawa point, and the water of the Brahmaputra rose by 33cm and is flowing 42cm above the danger level at Chilmari Ghat Point.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The water of the Tista rose by 25cm and is flowing 25cm below the danger level at Kawnia Ghat point.
Torrential rain is contributing to water coming from the hilly regions upstream and is causing flooding in 25 unions in Kurigram district which is home to 60,000 people.
Paddy, jute, maize, kaun and vegetable fields of about five hundred hectares of land have been submerged in the floodwaters. Besides, more than two hundred families have lost their land due to river erosion.
Flood water has entered most of the houses in Charyatrapur village under Jatrapur union of Kurigram Sadar upazila. The floods have devastated the people there who are already jobless because of the coronavisus pandemic.
According to sources at various Union Parishad offices, people of Hatia, Thetrai, Buraburi and Begumganj Unions of Ulipur Upazila and people of Kartimari, Chilmari and Nayarhat Unions of Roumari Upazila are facing severe erosion of the Brahmaputra River.
Besides, the people of Mogalbasa Union of Kurigram Sadar upazila are facing river erosion of the Dharla River. In the last week, more than two hundred houses in different upazilas have been washed away by the river.
Musa Mia, a resident of Char Mashal and Jahangir Alam of Bhagwati Char said most of the houses in the chars (low-lying river islands) were flooded. Many live in relative high areas, but the people living in low-lying areas have taken refuge on boats and outposts. Some have taken refuge in nearby shelters and schools, they said.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim said the upazila administration was working to evacuate the victims. Besides, 302 tonnes of rice and Tk30.50 lakh were allocated in the eroded upazilas on Friday.
