Netrokona flood worsens, Surma water creates pressure in haor

The flood situation in Netrokona has deteriorated due to torrential rain and the onrush of water from upstream.

After Kalmakanda and Khaliajuri, low-lying areas of three more upazilas – Durgapur, Madan and Mohanganj – have also been inundated. An embankment in Durgapur's Gaokandia Union has collapsed due to huge pressure of water.

On the other hand, the water level in the Surma River has decreased due to reduced rainfall in Sunamganj, but it is still flowing at 31cm above the danger level.

Low-lying areas of the district are submerged as border rivers, including Surma, Jadukata, Chalti, Khashiyamara and Chela, are overflowing due to onrush of water from hills, rendering hundreds of thousands of people marooned.

 25,000 people marooned in Kalmakanda

As of Monday, at least 150 villages in eight unions of Kalmakanda upazila were flooded, with about 25,000 people being marooned.

The Someshwari was still flowing at 27cm above the danger level at Kalmakanda point. The erosion in the river at Durgapur and the haor area at Khaliajuri increased.

Local fisheries department said about 650 tonnes fish from 2,337 ponds were washed away by floods. The loss was estimated at Tk6.87 lakh.

Besides, Bahadurkanda, Panchura and Hirakanda portions of Netrokona-Kalmakanda road, stretching about two kilometers, went under water, halting road communication with the district town. 

Meanwhile, Khaliajuri Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) AHM Ariful Islam said at least 2,500 families from 30 villages in six unions of the upazila were flooded.  More than 150 families took shelter in two schools in the upazila. Around 16-17 villages were badly affected due to erosion in the haors.

Netrokona Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer Md Akhtaruzzaman said the Someshwari was flowing at 27cm above the danger level at Kalmakanda point. Besides, this river at Durgapur point was flowing at 77cm below the danger level, the Kangsha was flowing at 86cm below the danger level at Zaria point.

Deputy Commissioner Moyeenul Islam said the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management had allocated 400 tonnes of rice and Tk12 lakh in cash for the flood-affected areas. Relief distribution had already started in the affected upazilas.

Water-level decreases in riverside areas, increases in haors

Sunamganj WDB said the water of other rivers in the district, including the Surma, is now creating pressure in haor areas.

Chhatak, Doarabazar, Bishwambharpur and Sadar upazilas of Sunamganj have been flooded due to heavy downpours since July 10 and onrush of water from the hills. Later, other upazilas have also gone under water.

Thousands of families at haors in the district are marooned. Many are staying at various shelter centres in the district town.

Roads are also submerged in the second phase of floods. The district had gone through floods in June for the first time this year.

Roads connecting the district town have also been damaged by the flood, halting road communication of Jamalganj, Tahirpur, Bishwambharpur, Doarabazar and Chhatak upazilas.

The floods have inundated rural roads, houses, government and non-government institutions, and fish farms, increasing the extent of damage.

However, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board said there is a possibility of more rainfalls.

Sunamganj district administration said 61 unions in the district have been flooded, leaving hundreds of thousands of people affected. So far, 1,379 families are staying in 269 shelter centres.