Earth cracks, building subsides in Satkhira

Some of the many holes created all of a sudden in Putuni village in Keralkata union under Kalaroa upazila yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

At least 50 small holes have been created on the ground.

A farmer, Tabibur Rahman, while ploughing his land was injured as he fall into a hole created abruptly when the cracks developed, villagers told this correspondent during a visit.

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The Keralkata Union Health Complex building subsided slightly and one of its walls and the roof also developed cracks.

Hundreds of panicked people from nearby areas thronged there to see the building, cracks and holes on the ground .

Sirajul Islam, Family Welfare Staff Emdadul Haq, injured Tabibur Rahman, Badar Uddin, Monowara Khatun and others of the village said cracks stretching 300 feet to 400 feet developed on the ground on the eastern side of the health complex all of a sudden.

Cracks stretching about 500 feet were seen on the yard of Sirajul Islam.

Islam and several other villagers said, similar crack developed on croplands in the village.

Kalaroa Upazila Nirbahi Officer In-charge SM Ashrafuzzaman visited the area and said he will inform the matter to the Geological Survey Department.

Kalaroa Uupazila Agriculture Officer Ashraf Ali said, it would not be possible to determine the cause of the cracks without investigation by experts of Geological Department.

"Indiscriminate extraction of underground water may be the cause", he said.

Agriculture Extension Department sources said, farmers in South Western districts use 2,92,253 pumps including 2770 deep tubewells and 2,60,160 shallow tubewells to irrigate their lands.