Jamuna erosion makes 150 families homeless

Erosion by the River Jamuna rendered at least 150 families of 10 villages homeless and devoured over 50 homesteads and croplands in Fulchhari upazila of the district in the last five days.

The erosion-hit people have taken shelter on roads and flood control embankment. 

The affected villages are Singria, Ratanpur, Uttar Uriya, Tinthopa, Kalasona, Kawyabadha, Nishchintapur, Saterkandi, Jorabari and Rasulpur.

The villagers expressed deep concern over the sudden onslaught by the river. They demanded that the authorities concerned take immediate measures to check erosion.

Despite repeated pleas, no remarkable initiative to stop erosion has been taken yet by the Water Development Board (WDB), they alleged.

"My homestead on four decimals of land has gone into the river," said Sombhu Nath Karmaker of Kamarpara village in the upazila.

The river engulfed around 50 homesteads and 100 bighas of cropland during the period, said Manotosh Roy, chairman of Gajaria Union Parishad.

Contacted, Abdul Awal Mia, executive engineer of WDB, Gaibandha, said the renovation work of Singria flood control dyke is underway to prevent erosion by the river.