5000 marooned as dike collapses in Satkhira

6 March 2010, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

Locals trying to repair the breached portion of the embankment on Kholpetua River at Puijala in Sreeula union of Assassuni upazila under Satkhira district yesterday as the breach left about 5,000 people marooned in adjacent areas.Photo: STAR

Two villages in Sreeula union under Assassuni upazila were inundated as the embankment on the river Kholpetua at Puijala point collapsed on March 2. At least 22 feet of the dike went into the river due to heavy pressure of water following high tide. Over 5,000 people of south Puijala and north Puijala villages have been marooned while a large number of people have taken shelter on high lands in the areas. As the authorities are yet to take steps to repair the breached embankment, villagers have joined hands to repair it to save the area from further flooding. Villagers also formed a human chain on Friday demanding repair of the dike at Puijala and other risky points. They said about 20 kilometer area of the embankment under polder no 4 of the water development board (WDB) run the risk of collapse any moment. At least 50 villages may go under water in case of the disaster, they feared. Sreeula union perished UP chairman Abu Hena Shakil said fearing collapse of the embankment, some people of the area have already left the area for safer places. Standing aman crops on 400 acres of land have been submerged and at least 50 shrimp enclosures in the area washed away due to the dike collapse, he said.