Flood in the north: Rivers swell, dyke collapses

People of Kurigram, Tangail and Jamalpur districts are the worst sufferers of the recent floods.

The rising water level washed away a 300-metre flood control dyke at Bamondanga union in Kurigram's Nageshwari upazila, flooding farmlands. Aman and jute farmers were affected in the areas.

The rising water of the Dudhkumar river is rushing into locality because of the collapsed dyke in Teliani Ghat area of Bamondanga union.

The affected villages are -- Bamondanga, Teliani, Maliani, Baramani, Dhanitari, Antaipar, Senpara, Pateshwari, Boalerdara and Purbo Sanjuarvita.

The Jhenai river devoured a number of homesteads in Tangail’s Mirzapur. Photo: Star

Farmer Maqbul Hossain, 60, of Baramani village, said the aman seedbed on 20 decimals of his land has submerged under water.

"If the seedbed is damaged, I will not be able to cultivate aman paddy on my six-bigha land," he said.

"Since Thursday morning, the water of the Dudhkumar has been entering houses. The Water Development Board (WDB) has not taken any action till Thursday afternoon," he said.

Bacchu Mia, 62, farmer of the same village, echoed him.

Nazrul Islam, 55, farmer of Teliani village, feared the sand carried by the water will deposit on their land when the water will recede.

"WDB visited the spot but has not taken any action yet," he said.

Bamondanga UP Chairman Asaduzzaman Roni said that around 1,000 farmers in 10 villages in his union are suffering due to river water that permeated through the locality through the collapsed dyke.

The WDB has made preparations to prevent the movement of water but the farmers are in dire state, he added.

Kurigram WDB sub-divisional engineer Ismat Toha said the dyke was constructed in 2012-2013. It has not been repaired since then.

"It is not possible to dumping sand-filled geo bags and geo tubes at this moment due to water flow."

Sand-filled geo bags and geo tubes are being prepared and these will be dumped when the water level decreases. The situation here is still under control, he claimed.

Erosion was reported in few upazilas of Jamalpur yesterday as water in the Jamuna has been swelling up threatening to engulf houses, religious site, market and schools.

Abdul Barik, a local of Katma village at Noarpara union in Islampur village, said the Jamuna has been furious over the last few days.

"The flood engulfed my house. I took refuge in one of my relatives' house after losing my home," he said.

Ruman Hasan, chairman of Noarpara Union Parishad, said they informed WDB about the erosion that washed away many homes in the union.

Abdul Mannan, water point measure of WDB, said the water in the Jamuna increased by 12cm and flowing 43cm below the danger level.

In Pabna, though the Jamuna is swelling, it is still below the danger level, said WDB officials.

[Our Kurigram, Tangail, Jamalpur and Pabna correspondents contributed to this report.]