Cry for relief in flood-hit areas
The shortage of fresh water, dry food and medicines has worsened the situation for thousands of flood-affected people in Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajganj and Kurigram. Local authorities, however, are trying their best to distribute scanty relief materials among the flood victims, who have taken shelter in educational institutions and other high place like dams.
Habibur Rahman, relief and rehabilitation officer of Gaibandha district, said at least 500 families were affected by floods triggered by river erosion in Fulchhari, Saghata and Sundarganj upazilas. He added that they have already distributed 21 tonnes of rice, corrugated iron sheet and money among the affected people.
Meanwhile, over a thousand families in Sariakandi upazila in Bogra district were affected due to the collapse of an under-construction flood-protection dam at Godakhali area in the upazilas Kamalpur union.
At least 1300 families were affected due to the collapse of the dam, said Mokhlesar Rahman, union parishad chairman of Kamalpur. The district administration allocated 13 tonnes of rice for the affected families, he added.
Our Bogra correspondent reports that the overall flood situation is improving in the district but erosion is continuing at flood control dams in Sariakandi and Dhunut upazilas.
The flood-hit people living in remote dam areas were yet to get relief items till yesterday. In the absence of any tangible effort from the government to provide relief materials, the flood-affected people of these areas are passing their days in dire distress.
Hundreds of families in Sariakandi, Sonatola, Dhunut and Sherpur upazilas have been waiting in vain for weeks for relief materials. The victims alleged that they were not getting adequate food, drinking water, fodder for animals and medicines to protect them against water-borne diseases.
The flood has also damaged crops, especially vegetables. Over 10,000 hectares in the flood hit areas are facing damage, the district agriculture officer said.
In Sirajganj, new areas are being inundated in Chowhali upazila due to the river erosion of Jamuna. Though the authorities have started work for the reconstruction of the Balighuri flood control embankment in Sadar upazila, 400 metres of the embankment still faces the threat of collapse.
The Water Development Board (WDB) said it has taken initiatives to reconstruct the embankment.
The flood situation in Gaibandha district is still unchanged and the river erosion is continuing at some parts of Fulchhari upazila due to the strong current of water.
Even some educational institutions in Fajlupur union are facing the threat of collapsing due to river erosion.
About 400 families of Purba Katiamari in Fajlupur union are still marooned by flood water.
Our Kurigram correspondent reports that the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers were flowing 0.59 metre at Chilmari Ghat point, 0.48 metre at Dharla Bridge point, 1.69 metre at Kawnia point and 2.00 metre at Nunkhawa point, respectively, under danger level till 5pm yesterday.
At least 716 families were affected by river erosion in the district, said district relief and rehabilitation official.
Pachgachhi union chairman Amir Ali said reports of river erosion inundating large swathes of land, including standing crops, were received from different parts of the district.
According to the Flood Information Centre, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Surma-Kushiyara river systems were in falling trend, while water in the Ganges-Padma system was rising. The flood situation in some areas of Sirajganj, Sunamganj and Netrokona may improve in the next 24 hours.
