Flood Situation Worsens in Kurigram, Natore, Sherpur

The overall flood situation in the districts of Kurigram, Natore and Sherpur worsened further owing to the surge of river water, cutting off road traffic locally and leaving thousands of citizens marooned and hungry.

In Kurigram, the Dharla River flowed 63 cm above the danger level at the Bridge point location, while Brahmmaputra was 50 cm above the danger at Chilmari point and 38 cm above the danger at Nunkhawa point. This means that the situation does not improve overnight.

In addition, the houses of 200 families in Burirhat in Razarhat upazila were submerged as the floodwater washed away the 50-metre spar region of the 350-metre spar along the Teesta River at Burirhat level.

The 350-metre spar was installed in 1998 at the expense of Tk 3 crore. Of this, 150 meters is good, while the rest is constructed with soil and block.

Though the authorities concerned of the local administration have been placing sand sacks for protecting the spar point but strong currents made the work challenging, forcing many people to evacuate their houses and take shelter in other places.

55,000 houses affected

Ariful Islam, Executive Engineer of the Kurigram Water Production Board, said that a part of the spar had been swept away by heavy current and measures will be taken to restore the spar after the flood water receded.

According to the District Relief and Rehabilitation Office, a total of 475 villages in nine upazilas have been flooded this year, although 500 families are at risk of river erosion. In fact, 55,000 houses were hit by floods and river erosion.

Two persons were killed in separate incidents in Sadar and Nakla upazilas in Sherpur.

Of the deceased, Bhushi Mia, 50, of Bausha area in Nakla upazila died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital as a snake bit him while catching fish in the flood water, said Zahidur Rahman, UNO of Nakla upazila.

Besides, Umela Begum, 50, wife of Abu Bakar of Kandapara in Sadar upazila, drowned in the flood water.

In Natore, the flood situation deteriorated further as the water of both rivers rose, leaving several hundred people marooned.

Atrai River rushed 74 cm above its danger point in the area, flooding houses along the river in the Singra municipality.

Most of the people in Singra upazila have taken shelter in different government schools.