Shrimp farmers count losses from cyclone in Koyra

People catch shrimp fries from rough Shakbaria river in Uttar Bedkashi, Koyra, Khulna on 27 May 2021. They would sell at .80 taka per piece

Shrimp farmers of Koyra upazila in Khulna district have suffered a loss of around Tk 150 million due to flooding caused by cyclone Yaas.

Nearly 2,500 hectares of fish and shrimp farms in four unions were flooded during high tide whipped by the cyclone.

Upazila fisheries department officer, SM Alauddin confirmed the amount of loss after an assessment on Thursday morning.

According to the survey more than 2,000 fish farmers of the upazila were counting the loss.

On Wednesday, water from rivers Kapotakkho, Koyra and Shakbaria reached over 6-7 feet height and flooded Maharajpur, Maheshwaripur, North and South Bedkashi unions of the upazila.

Meanwhile, the number of enclosures that got flooded by noon and by nightfall is yet to be counted by the administration, said fisheries officer Alauddin.

Every day, new villages are being submerged in the region as dilapidated protective dams of the Water Development Board are either already broken or incapable of holding high tide waters.