Teesta swallows 300-metre road, disrupts lives of 2,000 families in Lalmonirhat

Nearly 300 metres of an unpaved road along the right bank of the Teesta River in Khuniagachh union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila have disappeared into the river due to erosion, causing severe hardship for more than 2,000 families living in several char areas.

Residents of Char Harinchara, Paschim Harinchara, Majher Char and Adarshapara had used the road for years for daily travel and to transport agricultural produce to local markets. But battery-run easy-bikes, vans and other vehicles can no longer use the damaged road.

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Residents said around 300 metres of the road disappeared into the Teesta over the past month due to strong currents and erosion. Although the erosion has eased somewhat, they fear it could resume if the river's water level rises.

Now, residents have to travel on foot, while farmers carry their produce to and from markets on their shoulders and heads. This has increased the time and labour needed to transport their produce, adding to their costs.

They have demanded immediate repair of the road and permanent measures to prevent further river erosion.

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Photo: S Dilip Roy

Mokbul Hossain, 70, a farmer from Paschim Harinchara, said, “We used to travel smoothly to our destinations by easy-bike using this road. Now that a section of the road has gone into the river, easy-bikes can no longer operate. We are now forced to travel on foot.”

Sirajul Islam, 55, a farmer from Adarshapara, said, “Even in June, the Teesta was quite far from the road, and there was no fear of erosion. But in July, the strong current of the river began hitting the road. Within a month, nearly 300 metres of the road disappeared into the river. The erosion has stopped somewhat for now, but it could resume if the water level rises.”

Abdul Hamid, 65, another farmer from the area, said, “We used to transport agricultural produce by van. But vans can no longer use the road because of the erosion. We now have to carry our produce on our shoulders and heads. This requires more time and labour.

“If the road is not repaired soon, we will suffer significant financial losses while transporting and marketing our agricultural produce.”

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Photo: S Dilip Roy

Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said, “We tried to protect the only road used by char residents by placing sand-filled geo-bags along the vulnerable section. But the strong current prevented us from saving part of the road.”

He said an initiative would be taken through the upazila parishad to repair the 300-metre section of the road damaged by erosion once the water level recedes.

“The Water Development Board will also take necessary measures to protect the road from further river erosion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Al Amin Sarkar, upazila project implementation officer (PIO) of the Department of Disaster Management in Lalmonirhat Sadar, told The Daily Star that the road was built by the department to facilitate travel and the transportation of goods for around 2,000 families living in the char areas.

He added that the damaged section of the road would be repaired after the water recedes.