Thousands marooned as flood situation worsens

22 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

A mother waits as her son brings a pot of drinking water from a distant place swimming through floodwater at Ranigram village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, below, floodwater overflows Gobindaganj--Dinajpur road in Gaibandha. PHOTO: STAR/BANGLAR CHOKH

With inundation of fresh areas, the flood situation deteriorated in north and northeastern districts yesterday, marooning thousands of people. Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Water Development Board said though the situation in the northern districts of Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur is likely to improve from today, the situation in northeastern districts may get worse further. It said more low-lying areas in the districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Tangail, Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Dohar and Nawabganj of Dhaka are likely to be flooded in the next 24 to 72 hours. Four people, including two children, drowned in flood water in Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts on Friday and on Thursday, according to our correspondents. They are Faridul Islam, 10, of Shabaj village under Sunderganj upazila andAbdur Rashid, 12, of Kalapani upazila under Shaghata upazila of Gaibandha, and Desaruddin, 30, and Jalaluddin, 33, of Purbo Baishpukur village under Dimla upazila of Nilphamari. Our Gaibandha correspondent reports: Fresh areas in Sunderganj, Palashbari and Gaibandha Sadar upazilas have been submerged as the rivers flowing through the districts marked sharp rise following downpour and onrush of water from upstream. At least 30,000 people living in the low-lying areas along the Teesta and the Karotoa rivers have been marooned while recently transplanted aman in Sunderganj and Gobindaganj upazilas damaged by flood. In Nilphamari, flood yesterday engulfed fresh areas in the districts as the Teesta was flowing 40cm above the danger mark, reports our correspondent. Desaruddin and Jalal Uddin drowned in the Teesta on Thursday night when the boat in which they were moving to a safer place capsized in the river. Fresh areas in five upazilas of Netrakona have gone under water, leaving at least 25,000 people marooned, reports our correspondent. The upazilas are Durgapur, Kalmakanda, Khaliajuri, Madan and Mohongonj. Recently transplanted aman on about 20,000 hectares of land and vegetables on several thousand hectares of land have been damaged. Flood also damaged three bridges on Gutora-Barkhapon road. The four rivers of the district--Someswari, Kongsha, Mogra and Dhanuwere yesterday flowing above the danger mark. Our Sirajganj correspondent reported that 40 more villages in five upazilas of the district have been flooded due to onrush of water from upstream and heavy downpour in the last two days. The worst affected areas are Maghai, Natuarpara, Nishchintapur, Maizbari, Khasrajbari, Monsurnagor in Kazipur upazila, Ranigram, Khoksabari, Gunergati, Diarpanchil, Shailabari, Khalishakura, Shimla, Bhatpiri, and Mesra in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, Tamai, Azugara, Subornasara, Enayetpur in Belkuchi upazila, Khaskawlia, Jamalpur, Umorpur, in Chowhali upazila and Kaizuri, Bailtol, Gudhibari and Porzona in Shahzadpur upazila. Over 50,000 people of the affected areas have taken shelter on flood control embankment and highland. The low-laying areas under Bhuapur upazila in Tangail yesterday went under water as Jamuna marked a further rise, says our correspondent. Erosion has taken a serious turn at different points and the river has engulfed a large portion of Gabsara Union Health and Family Welfare Center. Rulipara Primary School is also under erosion threat. Riajul Hasan, executive engineer of WDB in Tangail, said they have taken all measures to save Pingna-Jokarchar flood control embankment from erosion. Our staff correspondent from Bogra adds: The Jamuna swelled and was flowing 48cm above the danger level at Sariakandi point yesterday. At the same point, the water level of the river Bangali market a rise and was flowing 15cm above the danger mark. Executive Engineer Md Momtajuddin of Water Development Board (WDB), Bogra, said about 10 metres of the embankment in Partitporol area have been eroded by the river.