Torrential rains and onrush of water from the upstream for the last few days have caused flood in several northern and other districts in the country rendering several lakh of people marooned. Moreover, tidal surge has also damaged a number of flood protection embankments in several districts further worsening the situation, according to our district correspondents. Meanwhile, sporadic erosions have been continuing at places alongside the rivers devouring many houses and properties along with arable lands in these districts, locals said.Erosions of the rivers Padma in Rajshahi and Dharla in Lalmonirhat have also taken a serious turn and displaced hundreds of people of the affected villages. As reported, several areas of some northern districts namely Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Dinajpur Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmoirhat, Kurigram, Bogra, Jamalpur, Sirajganj and Bhola have been flooded.In Bhola, at least two lakh people of 50 villages have been marooned due to heavy downpour along with onrush on hilly water for the last few days. Besides, the tidal surge has damaged a number of flood protection embankments in the district, including a one kilometre long flood protection embankment at Syedpur union in Daulatkhan upazila, marooning about 600 families Over one lakh people in Lalmonirhat district are now facing food and pure drinking water scarcity as rains and onrush water from the upstream have flooded 80 villages in Hatibandha, Aditmari, Kaliganj, Patgram and Sadar upazilas of the district.All kinds of establishments in these upazilas, including schools, madrasas, mosques, temples and fish farms, went under water because of the strong tidal surge over the last couple of days.In Charfashion upazila, about 3.5 kilometre flood protection embankment at Madras union became vulnerable due to the lack of repair and maintenance by the Water Development Board (WDB). The embankment can not be repaired until the next dry season, it is learnt. The tidal water have been rushing in and flooding the low laying areas due to long breaches on the flood protection embankment that have developed over the last one and a half months. As a result, around 40 villages in seven unions of the upazila have been inundated at the advent of this rainy season. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), about 4,250 hectare cultivable lands in Charfashion upazila remain under water during the last one month, leading to a loss worth Tk 20 crore.In Monpura upazila, people of Hajipur, Monpura, Dakkhin Sakuchia and Uttar Sakuchia unions have also been affected by the tidal surge.In Lalmonirhat, people of the flood hit areas are yet to get any relief from the government or from any non government organisation. Though some people have taken shelter in government schools and colleges, most of the affected people are still reeling under water.Meanwhile, the major rivers marked sharp rises during the past 24 hours till Sunday morning due to heavy onrush of hilly waters in the Brahmaputra basin amid moderate rainfall at all places. However, the Teesta and Dharla, have started receding. The Teesta water was flowing only two centimeters above its danger level at Teesta Barrage point of Hatibandha upazila while the Dharla one centimeter below of the danger mark at Non-Khawa ghat point in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila in the morning, says WDB office in Lalmonirhat.The people living on Teesta River basin at Gobordhan Char village said they are having dry foods only as they could not cook due to stagnant water.Nabir Hossain, 48, of Chander Char village in Aditmari upazila, said, “We, the poor people, are reeling under Teesta water and have been living in an inhuman life since Friday night.””We have no scope to cook our meal as we are surrounded by water. So, we need dry food like flattened and puffed rice,” he said.Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman said relief materials will be distributed among the affected people of the five upazilas today (Monday) and Tuesday.Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) Mahbubur Rahman said the Teesta was flowing 10 cm above the danger mark at Dalia point in the morning.Though the major rivers were flowing below their respective dangher mark at all points Sunday afternoon, about 32,000 people in the low-lying and char areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj are still marooned. Locals said that the inundated people in low-lying char areas have started shifting themselves to safer places along with properties due to the flood.
