Although the ongoing flood situation has been improving in all the districts, river erosion in several parts of the country is posing a threat to the people living on the riverbanks, many establishments, mosques and educational institutions.
Erosion in the Kirtankhola River in Barisal has taken a serious turn. At least three persons were missing following a sudden erosion of the river at Lamchhari under Chabaria union on Sunday early hours. Four houses were also eroded.
The missing persons were identified as Golam Mostafa Shikder, 60, Hossain Hawlader, 45, and Selim Sarder, 40, of Lamchhari area.
Relatives of the victims and Fire Service & Civil Defense of Barisal confirmed the missing report. Eleven more people also fell into the river during the erosion but the locals rescued them alive.
Deputy Commissioner of Barisal Shahidul Alam along with other local government officers visited the spot. The local administration said that the operation was continuing to rescue the missing persons.
According to the locals, strong current of the Kirtankhola River already eroded away more than half a kilometer area with several homes and croplands. But authorities concerned have not yet taken any steps for its protection. If the authorities took necessary steps earlier, people would not face this disastrous impact of river erosion, the locals said.
Meanwhile, despite improvement of the flood situation, the water at least in six river stations was flowing above danger levels on Sunday, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
Ripon Karmaker, Assistant Engineer of the FFWC, said that the Padma was flowing above 35 cm of danger level at Sureshwar point, while Shitalakhya was flowing above 66 cm at Lakhpur point and 10 cm in Narayangnj, Kushiara was flowing above 13 cm in Sherpur, while Dhalai was 2 cm at Kamalganj and Kangsha was 11 cm at Jariajanjail point.
Many of the flood victims are yet to return to their homes due to lack of adequate food, pure drinking water and necessary medicines. Over two millions flood affected people across the country are now passing days amid insecurity.
In Kurigram, the flood of caused extensive damage to the agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure sectors in the district. It damaged properties worth Tk 1,500 crore in the three sectors, records of the Water Development Board, Fisheries Department and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) offices in the district showed.
Acting Deputy Director of DAE in Kurigram Dr Afsar Ali said the flood has caused losses to 1,89,630 farmer families in the district, wreaking havoc on different types of crops, including transplanted Aman, on 32,395.1 hectares of land. Of the affected crop fields, 31,392 hectares are of transplanted Aman, 447 hectares of Aman seedbeds, 38 hectares of Aus paddy and 38 hectares are of vegetables. The extent of damage to the agriculture by the flooding was estimated at Tk 240.71 lakh.
Deputy Director of Fisheries Department in the district Zillur Rahman said that the flood washed away fishes from 677.6 acres of marsh lands and 1,789 water bodies, causing loss of Tk322.5 crore. Executive Engineer of Water Development Board office in the district Abu Taher said about 17 kilometers area of the flood protection embankment at different points has become vulnerable due to the flood. He added that Tk 460 crore would be needed to repair the damaged portions of the dyke. He also said a Tk 460 crore project proposal has already been sent to the higher authorities to repair and reconstruct the risky portions of the dyke. Emergency measures will be taken to protect the dyke from being damaged after allocation of fund, he said further.
Another WDB official Abdul Quader said river erosion occurred at least at 30 points in Kurigram north unit under WDB Lalmonirhat, putting 44 kms out of 48 kms of the flood protection embankment at risk.
Earlier, a project proposal of Tk 532 crore had been submitted to the authorities concerned to repair the vulnerable portions of the dyke and prevent river erosion, he said, adding that river erosion could not be checked due to lack of fund.
Sources concerned said the government is yet to take any notable initiative to recover from the extensive losses caused by the 21-day long flood. Though different incentive packages and project proposals were sent to the authorities concerned to recoup the flood-inflicted damage, no response has been found yet.
