Flood situation worsens in northern, northeastern districts

The overall flood situation in northern and northeastern districts has deteriorated as heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream continued on Saturday.

Thousands of people remained marooned in the flood-affected districts while shortage of food and drinking water has mounted the woes of the victims.

Vast areas in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts were inundated as the Teesta River continued to swell following incessant rains and onrush of water from India.

In Lalmonirhat, the local office of the Water Development Board (WDB) has issued red alert in Teesta Barrage area as the river turned turbulent following the onrush of water.

WDB officials said they might break the flood bypass road on the barrage to protect the barrage.

Meanwhile, a 500-metre portion of the road connecting 10 villages to the upazila headquarters in Hatibandha collapsed at Gaddimari Medical Mor on Saturday noon following the gushing water from the Teesta, severing the communication.

The gushing water also devoured around 30 homesteads.

The Teesta was flowing 45 cm above the danger level at Doani point while 53.05cm at Dalia point on Saturday afternoon, said WDB Deputy Divisional Engineer at Dalia Hafizur Rahman.
He said they issued red alert in the barrage area as the river took a dangerous turn since Friday evening.

Around 30,000 people remained marooned in five upazilas of the district.

The flood-affected unions in the five upazilas include Dahagram, Saniazan, Goddimari, Sindurna, Patikapara, Dauabari, Singimari, Bhotmari, Kakina, Mohishkhocha, Khuniyagachh, Rajpur, Gokunda, Kulaghata and Mogalhat.

The victims alleged that they were leading a miserable life for want of relief materials from the government.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Jafar visited the collapsed road, saying steps have been taken to quickly repair it.

All the major rivers -– Dharla, Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dudhkumar –- were flowing above the danger level in Kurigram, inundating chars and low-lying areas on the estuaries of the four rivers and leaving over 1.5 lakh people homeless.

Besides, some 725 families lost their homesteads to river erosion, said sources at the district flood control room.

Kurigram WDB Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said the Dharla was flowing 52 cm, Brahmaputra 39 cm, Teesta 9 cm and Dudhkumar was flowing 7 cm above the red mark at noon.

A 300-metre portion of a flood protection dam in Badaber union in Roumari upazila collapsed while cracks developed on five spots of another dam in Jadurchar union due to heavy pressure of water.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Hafizur Rahman said they have taken all the necessary preparations to face flood. 

He said 50 tonnes of rice and Tk 2.75 lakh have been allocated for the flood victims.

In Gaibandha, chars and low-lying areas in Sundarganj, Fulchhari, Saghata and Sadar upazilas went under floodwater, leaving around 50,000 people homeless.

Vast tracts of cropland and roads were also submerged by water, snapping communication in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the erosion by the Teesta has taken a serious turn in a number of villages in Fulchhari, Sundarganj and Sadar upazilas, devouring at least 120 dwelling houses in the last one week.

Local WDB Executive Engineer GM Selim Parvez said Brahmaputra, Teesta and Ghaghat rivers were flowing above the red mark while the Jamuna and Karatoa were about the touch the danger level.

Flood victims have taken shelter in highland and embankments. However, they were leading a miserable life for want of food and drinking water.

In Habiganj, the Kushiara and Khoai rivers were flowing above the danger level in Nabiganj of the district. 

The gushing Kushiara also threatened Bibiyana Power Plant at Parkul.

The local WDB office fears that the power plant might be affected if the water level continues to rise.

However, the WDB executive engineer said they were trying to protect the dam placing sand bags.

In Sylhet, the Surma, Kushiara and Sari rivers surged further, inundating new areas in Companiganj, Goainghat, Jaintapur, Kanaighat, Fenchuganj, Balaganj and Sadar upazilas on Saturday.

Sylhet WDB executive engineer Muhammad Shahiduzzaman Sarker said the Surma was flowing 157 cm above the red mark in Kanaighat while 65 cm above the red mark in the city at 3pm on Saturday.

The water level of the Kushiara was 75 above the red mark at Shewla, 139 cm at Alamsid and 44 cm at Sherpur. The Sari was flowing 13 cm above the danger level at Sarighat.

Meanwhile, stone quarries in Bholaganj, Dhalai, Bihchanakandi and Jaflong remained closed following the rise in water.

A quarry worker remained missing as boat sank when he went to collect stones from Bholaganj Quarry on Friday. The victim is Helal Uddin, son of late Nurul Islam of Madhya Rajnagar village in Companiganj upazila.

In Sirajganj, the low-lying areas in Chouhali, Shahjadpur, Enayetpur, Kazipur, Belkuchi and Sadar upazilas were inundated as the water level in the Jamuna River continued to rise.

The water level of the river rose by 54 cm in the last 24 hours till Saturday, said the local WDB office.

The flood situation in Netrakona deteriorated further on Saturday due to heavy rains and water coming from the upstream, leaving over 50,000 people in Durgapur, Kalmakanda, Mohanganj, Madan, Purbadhala, Barhatta and Atpara upazilas marooned.

At least 200 educational institutions have been closed after floodwater entered those.

The Sumeshwari was flowing 156 cm above the danger mark at Durgapur point while 176 cm at Zaria point. The Kongsha, Mogra, Ubdakhali, Golamkhali, Goneshwari and Dhanu rivers were also flowing above the red mark.

The badly affected unions are Nazirpur, Rangchati, Kailati, Langura, Borkapoon, Pugla and Sadar unions under Kalmakanda upazila; Raipur, Baushi, Asma and Singdha unions under Barhatta upazila; Suair, Gaglazur, Tatulia and Maghan-Siadhar unions under Mohanganj upazila; Sukhari, Luneshwar, Baniazan and Duaz unions under Atpara upazila; Gobindasree, Fatehpur, Nayekpur and Theosree unions under Madan upazila; and Muzaffarpur, Noapara, Bolaishimul and Kandiura unions under Kendua upazila.

DC Mainul Islam said if the rain continues for the next two or three days, the flood situation might take a serious turn.

He also said 20 tonnes of GR rice and dry food have been allocated for the affected people.

In Rangpur, over 50,000 people were marooned as the water of the swelling Teesta inundated chars and low-lying areas of Gangachhara, Kaunia and Pirgachha upazilas.

An acute shortage of food and drinking water was reported from the affected areas.

The Teesta crossed danger mark at Kaunia point on Saturday and was flowing 56 cm above the danger mark, according to the local WDB control room.

In Pirgachha upazila, three villages under Sawla union went under water. The upazila administration distributed 470 packets of dry food among the flood-hit people.

Floodwater submerged vast areas in four unions of Kaunia. Dhushmara Govt Primary School was closed as water entered it.

In Gangachhara, villages under six unions were submerged by floodwater.

Meanwhile, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Taslima Begum visited several flood-affected areas and allocated 20 tonnes of rice for the flood victims.