Dyke collapse in Moulvibazar floods 15 villages

At least 15 villages in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district got flooded as an embankment of the Juri River collapsed at Boroitoli point on Friday night due to heavy rain and onrush of water from upstream.

Several thousand people of Boroitoli village, Uttarsagornal, Montigaon, Somai, Silua, Patilasangon, Kashinagor, Kapnapahar, Sagornal and Rotna villages in Sagornal union; and Baradhamai and Gualbari villages under Gualbari union; have been marooned.

Besides, the roads and seedbeds of the areas have gone under water and fish of around 60 ponds have been washed away.

People of Sagornal village said aman cultivation has become uncertain as seedbeds have gone under water. They urged the government to take immediate steps to repair the embankment.

According to some residents of Juri area, about 100 meters area of the river embankment collapsed due to onrush of water from the upstream. The embankment collapsed at the same point last year, but the authorities concerned did not repair it properly, they alleged.

Gulsan Ara Mili, chairman of Juri Upazila Parishad, said Boroitoli area is the most vulnerable point of the embankment and the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair it.

Contacted, local lawmaker Shahab Uddin said he has asked the WDB officials to rapair the damaged portion of the embankment immediately.

Foizur Rahman, executive engineer of Moulvibazar WDB, said a portion of the embankment collapsed due to heavy pressure of water. "We will repair it immediately," he added.