Ehsanul Haque Jasim :The flash flood hits for the second time again in several districts, including Netrakona, Bhola, Kurigram and Gaibandha, following heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream.The Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona, Dr. Torun Kanti Shikder, who visited the flood-hit areas of the district on Tuesday, called upon the members of Army and Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) to take part in the rescue operation in the worst-hit district. At least 200 villages in 15 unions under Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas of the district were inundated by the flood water.One person, Sirajul Islam, was killed in the flood in Durgapur upazila, the DC confirmed. Many thatched houses were damaged and the newly transplanted T-aman and vegetables on several thousand acres of land went under water.District water development board office sources said the river Sumeswari was flowing 250 cm above the danger level at Durgapur point on Tuesday.The DCsaid that emergency relief operation was being carried out in the flood-hit region under the supervision of district and upazila administrations.Members of the Army and BGB have joined their hands in the emergency relief operation in response to the call of the district administration, the DC said. As the flood situation has started improving, there was need of eviction of the flood-victims, added the DC. No sooner had the reins of destruction of the previous flood healed, the flood hits again to the extreme anxiety of the people. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the water was flowing above danger level at least in 7 points in the country on Tuesday. The Ghur River was flowing above 8 cm of the danger level in Singra point. The water flow in the point was increased by 28 cm than Monday. The Surma River in Sunamganj point was flowing above 35 cm of the danger level, increasing by 80 cm. The Khuyai River was flowing 55 cm in Balla point increasing by 80 cm, while the flow of Bhugai River at Nakuagaon point was 116 cm, 221 cm in Jadhukata River in Lorergarh point increasing by 142 cm, 250 cm in Someshwari River in Durgapur point increasing 80 cm and 225 cm in Konsho River in Jariajangail point increasing by 234 cm.A. N. M Tareq Siddique, Assistant Programmer of the FFWC, said that the water was continuing to rise in several rivers. For this reason, the flood situation may worsen in different parts of the country. The Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, the Ganges, the Padma and the Meghna rivers were in rising trend on Tuesday, while the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, the Ganges, the Padma, the Meghna and the rivers around the Dhaka city-Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakkhya and Balu-may likely to rise today (Wednesday) and tomorrow, according to the FFWC official. Amirul Hossain, Executive Engineer of the FFWC, however, said that flash flood affected Netrakona, Kurigram and some other districts. The situation will improve in the district flood situation may further deteriorate in Bogra and Sirajganj districts. The earlier flood from the mid August to first week of September affected over two millions people in 20 districts in the country. The people in flood hit areas had faced a lot of miseries, as many of them were homeless and they lost their belongings, including their last hope- Aman paddy and other seasonal crops. Different waterborne diseases were spread in the areas due to the flood. When the flood hit-people is facing trouble to overcome the earlier damage, in this backdrop, if they face another flood with span of days, they have to face untold miseries. Experts and observes said that the government has to take immediate and emergency initiative so that the flood hit people won’t face another flood. In Bhola, the low-lying areas of Bhola Sadar, Charfasion and Doulatpur upazilas were inundated by the flood water. At least 30 thousand people of the flood affected area have been marooned. The fresh flood hit the district due to torrential rain from three days and tidal water in the rivers flowing above the district. The crops and seasonal vegetables of the flood hit areas also went under flood water.Abul Kalam Patwari, Chairman of Dhalchar U/P of Charfasion, said that some areas of his union went under flood water from Monday afternoon. At least five thousand people of the union along with domestic animas have been marooned due to the flood, he said. Executive Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) of Bhola Abdul Hakim said that the flood hit the district, as the water in Meghana River was flowing above the danger level due to the heavy from last couple of days. In Kurigram, at least 30 villages of the low-lying areas of Roumari, Rajibpur and Chilmari upazilas were flooded. For this reason, about ten thousands people of the flood hit villages have been marooned. According to the Agriculture Department, at least ten thousand hectares of lands of Ropa Aman paddy also came under flood water. The farmers are now concerned for the apprehension of fresh damage of different kinds of vegetables alongside with the damage of Aman paddy. Sub-engineer of WDB Sabibur Rahman said that the Dharla was flowing near the danger level, as the water flow rose by 49 cm on Tuesday. The waters in 15 other rivers, including Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dudhkumar, also rose in Kurigram due to heavy downpour from four more days. In Gaibandha, the public life has been disrupted due heavy rains from two days. Low-lying areas in different areas of the district, particularly V-Aid Road, Munsipara, Devit Companipara, Sarakapara, Palasapara and Suhrawardy, Station Road of Gainbandha Sadar, were inundated due to the rain water. Vast areas of land of Aman paddy were also flooded. The rainfall is also damaging the rural roads in the district.
