12,000 families marooned as Teesta, Dharla flow above danger level

Teesta and Dharla rivers are flowing above the danger level, marooning over 12,000 families in Lalmonirhat, while hundreds of establishments face the risk of being swallowed by the Meghna.

News agency UNB’s Lalmonirhat correspondent reports that around Thursday noon, the Teesta was flowing 8cm above the danger level Doani point while Dharla has been flowing 7cm above the danger level at Kulaghat point.

Rabiul Islam, executive engineer of Dalia point of the barrage, said all sluice gates have been opened. Excessive flow of water has led to the inundation of low land and char areas in Lalmonirhat, he said.

District relief and rehabilitation officer Ali Hayder said at least 950 packets of dry food, 150 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 250,000 will be distributed among the affected people after getting a list from the upazilas.

At least 12,000 families in Dohogram union of Patgram upazila, Goddimari, Saniazan, Sindurna, Patikapara, Singimari in Hatibandha upazila, Mohishkhocha in Aditmari upazila, Khuniagach, Rajpur, Gokunda, Kulaghat and Mogolhat union in Sadar upazila have been stranded, he added.

Locals said heavy rain in the last five days disconnected the area from the district town. The children, elderly and physically challenged people have been facing crisis mostly due to unavailability of drinking water.

Manik Mia of Mohishkhocha union under Aditmari upazila said they did not receive any relief yet from anyone.

Kazi Shafikul Islam, headmaster of Gobordhan Char Government Primary School, said students stopped coming to school for three days as their classrooms have been flooded.

To add to the woes, the flood control dam at Talebmore area at Hatibandha upazila may collapse anytime.

UNB’s Chandpur correspondent reports that residents of Amtoli area in Haimchar upazila are passing days amid worries due to the intensified erosion on the banks of Meghna river.

Ahmed Ali Master, chairman of Charbhairabo Union Parishad, said the erosion by Meghna took a serious turn during the last couple of days following the rise in water level.

Haimchar River Protection Dam, many business establishments and a local mosque may go into the river anytime, he added.

On information, executive engineer of Chandpur Water Development Board, Abu Raihan, UNO Ferdousi Begum and Haimchar Upazila chairman Nur Hossain Patwari visited the site on Wednesday.

Raihan said GO bags will be dumped on the riverbanks and a proposal will be sent to the higher authorities to build a permanent dam.

UNB’s Sherpur correspondent reports that constant rain and heavy flow of water from the upstream have worsened the flood situation.

Parts of Jhenigati Sadar and over 25 villages of Dhanshail, Kangsha, Hatibandha and Malijhikanda unions were inundated.

Jhenigati UNO Rubel Mahmud said at least 10,000 people of five unions have been affected.

The situation will improve when the rain stops, he added.

Its Sylhet correspondent reports that parts of Goainghat upazila have gone under water during incessant rain over the last couple of days.

Communication with upazila sadar and low-lying areas were cut due to flooding.

Road communication was halted in several villages of East Zaflong, Alirgaon, Rustompur, Doubari, Lengura, Toakul and Nandirgaon unions.

On the other hand, erosion put several dams in the area at the risk of collapse.

Goainghat UNO Bishwajit Kumar Pal said the administration has been monitoring the overall situation.

They have already started to send relief goods to every union of the upazila, he added.