Villages in Sirajganj, Bogra flooded as Jamuna swells

8 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Children fishing on the premises of a flooded house in Chowhali upazila of Sirajganj district, above, a victim family removing tin-roof of their inundated house to a safer place at Karnibari village in Sariakandi upazila yesterday. Photo: STAR

With rise in water levels in the river Jamuna and its tributaries, fresh areas in three upazila of Sirajganj and a village in Bogra have been inundated. In Sirajganj, about 50 villages in Kazipur, Shahzadpur and Chowhali upazilas have been submerged as the river Jamuna and its tributaries-- Ichhamoti, Dharla, Karotoa, Bangal and Hurasagors-welled further due to downpour and onrush of water from upstream, according to our correspondent. The badly affected villages are Maizbari, Monsurnagar, Chargrish, Khasrajbari, Natuarpara, Tekani, Nish-chintapur, Shubhogachha, Polashpur, Sreepur, Ghorachora, Rangagari and Raghunathpur in Kazipur upazila; Kaizuri, Sonatola, Gudhibari, Jamirta, Beltail and Charkaizuri in Shahzadpur upazila; and Umorpur, Ghorzan, Khaskawlia, Jalalpur and a large portion of Chowhali upazila headquarters. The affected families of these villages have taken shelter on high land, roads and embankments and at educational institutions. Local administrations have closed at least 30 educational institutions, including primary and high schools, in the affected upazilas for an indefinite period. Water Development Board (WDB) officials said water levels in the Jamuna and its tributaries will rise further in the next three or four days if rain continues. However, the Jamuna was flowing under the danger mark near Sirajganj town point yesterday afternoon. The officials said if the newly built dam from Ranigram to Shimla is not protected from river erosion, the entire district will go under water. Our staff correspondent from Bogra reports: At least 175 families have become homeless at Nijkorniari village near the newly constructed Jamuna embankment in Katubpur Union of Shariakandi Upazila. Avijit Roy, Shariakandi upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), said most of the affected families have taken shelter on the flood protection embankment in the area. He said local administration has sunk three tube-wells at the village to provide pure drinking water for the flood-hit people. Katubpur Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Tozzamal Hossain Madhu told this correspondent over cellphone that about 500 affected people have been shifted form the submerged village to the flood control embankment at Nijkornibari and adjacent villages. He further said the list of the affected people is being prepared to supply relief materials to them. Mintu Master, one of the affected villagers, said he along with his family members have taken shelter on the embankment. Nijkornibari village is situated between old and newly built embankments. AKM Mamtazuddin, executive Engineer of Water Development Board in Bogra, said water entered the village through the breached portion of the old embankment.