400-metre of embankment collapses in Sirajganj

Houses, croplands devoured by Jamuna: Flash flood in town feared

27 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj

With erosion by the Jamuna taking a serious turn, part of flood control embankment at Raniganj point near Sirajganj town collapsed while the mighty river has continued devouring adjoining areas.Photo: STAR

About 400-metre stretch of Ranigram flood control embankment on the western bank of the Jamuna near Sirajganj town collapsed in the last two days while another long portion is under threat. About 200 acres of croplands in five upazilas and 150 houses along the embankment have gone into the river and flash flood is feared in the town. The people of the town are now passing time under fear of flood as the river continued to swell. Due to massive erosion, many people of Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur and Chowhali upazilas of the district have already gone to safer places and many others are making preparations to move. Hundreds of homesteads are now under threat as erosion had taken serious turn along the western bank of the Jamuna, said Water Development Board (WDB) officials, adding that their workers are dumping sand bags and blocks on the affected points round the clock. During a visit to Ranigram this correspondent found people moving to safer places fearing further breach in the embankment. These people earlier took shelter on the embankment after the river had eroded their homesteads. Locals said the erosion could have been averted if the authorities concerned had started repair work of the embankment in time. The WDB sources said Khokshabari, Shimla, Panchil, Bhatpiari and Ranigram in Sirajganj sadar upazila, Shuvogachha, Maizbari, Dhekuria and Simantabazar in Kazipur upazila, Randhunibari, Shohagpur and Enayetpur in Belkuchi upazila, Monakosha, Kaijuri, Ghudibari and Dattapara in Shahzadpur upazila and Khaskawlia, Jalalpur and Umorpur in Chowhali upazila are now worst affected by the erosion. But, they said, they could not take necessary steps to prevent the erosion due to lack of adequate funds. “Due to the erosion, I lost my home. Now I am staying under the open sky but no one has come to her help,” widow Jarina Bewa, 55, of Chowhali said. Basir Uddin, 35, of Ranigram village in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, said WDB starts works with putting some sand sacks and blocks in the river, when the river erosion takes serious turn but it is nothing but an eyewash. When contacted, Nizamul Haque Bhuian, executive engineer of Sirajganj WDB, told The Daily Star their men were working at all vulnerable points days and dumping sand bags and blocks nights to protect the embankment, but to no avail as the tide is very strong.