50,000 marooned in two upazilas in Khulna

At least 156 families have become homeless as strong current of water after the breaches washed away their houses, official sources said yesterday.

They estimated crop loss at about Tk three crore by the sudden inundation of fields and homesteads.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Immediately after the breaches, local people tried to mend those but failed.

The inundated villages are Jaliakhali, Chandgarh, Bohira Khrha, Ratankhali, Rutmari, Modna, Bhulbaria, Sharafpur and Syedpur in Dumuria upazila and Barhoaria, Sundarmahal, Kodol, Shumvonager and Mathbaria in Batiaghata upazila. At many places, homesteads are now under waist-deep water, the officials said.

Many of the homeless people have taken on high lands and are in dire need of food and drinking water.

All academic institutions in the villages have been closed as they have become inundated. Shrimp in over 100 enclosures have also been washed away.

Dumuria UNO Rakibul Bari told this correspondent that eight metric tonnes of rice have been sanctioned for distribution among the affected people.

Khulna Deputy Commisioner could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts.