Inclement Weather, Fresh Flood
Food, water crisis aggravates in Kabodak basin areas
The inclement weather came as a severe blow to over two lakh people in Kabodak basin areas, as rains and waters from the swelled river aggravated the flood and inundated more areas.
Several thousand people who too shelter on roads and high places earlier are now virtually passing miserable days under the open sky.
At least 124 villages in 15 unions in Tala and Kalaroa upazilas in Satkhira are worst affected as more water from the swelled river the areas overflowing the banks of silted Kabodak.
The areas are already water-logged for about two months as waters from the river remained stagnant.
The villagers are passing days half-fed for lack of works as croplands are now under water. There is also acute crisis of fodder and poultry birds are also dying, locals said.
Most of the areas are under two to three feet water now. The villagers are almost isolated from other areas because boat is the only means of communication.
Over 25000 homeless families have taken shelter in at least 42 make shift centers built on high lands in the affected areas.
There is a crisis of food and drinking water in those places. Most of the tube wells are under water.
There is no trace of any crop on about 70, 000 acres and at least 85 shrimp enclosures have been inundated, causing a loss of about Tk one crors, farmers said.
Flooding recurs every year, keeping crop lands under water for over six months silted Kabodak is dying.
Water-logging in the areas is taking serious turn year after year affecting livelihood, Deara Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Anowarul Islam in Kalaroa upazila said. This is a problem since the 80s, he added.
Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mizanur Rahman visited the affected areas and said the administration will take steps to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people.
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