Khulna Villages Flooded As Tidal Surge Damages Embankments

Low-lying areas in Koyra and Paikgachha Upazilas in the Khulna district have been flooding with tidal waves, leaving thousands of residents in a state of chaos.

Locals claimed that the floodwaters poured into the cyclone of Amphan-hit villages in Koyra and Paikgachha Upazilas, triggering a breach of the bank and, as a consequence, worsening of people's misery, reports UNB.

Water levels in the Shibsa, Kapotakkho and Koyra rivers in Khulna have seen an increase after a heavy tidal wave, inundating fresh regions.

In Koyra Upazila, four villages — No-2 Koyra, No-3 Koyra, Gobra, and Bedkashi villages — were flooded at five points on Friday, said Shafiqul Islam, chairman of Koyra Upazila Parishad.

Kazipara, Putihari, Harinkhola, Kashirhat Khola and Ghatakhali of Koyra Upazila were flooded on Wednesday, affecting 10,000 residents.

Since Thursday, the villagers have been trying to secure the branch.

Koira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Animesh Biswas said that the flood had reached the villages due to the strength of the tidal stream.

He said necessary repair works will be possible in all these places only when the floodwater recedes. Besides, sandbags are being provided to volunteers for dumping those to save the embankment, Animesh he said.

In Paikgachha, breaches have developed on the dam of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in four unions due to the tidal surge inundating ponds, croplands and houses.

Since the dam was partially restored on the initiative of local officials and the BWDB, more than 500 families of the Betbunia Housing Project and Guchchagram in the Sonadana Union are going through days of tremendous suffering.

The same union's Wapda dam in Tengramari and Bhang Haria collapsed on Wednesday, flooding 5,000 shrimp farms and causing significant crop loss.

In addition, the dam of Hariya collapsed on Wednesday due to the strength of water from the Shibsa River in Paikgachha Upazila. Local president SM Enamul Haque, along with more than 400 men, voluntarily repaired the dam.

However, hundreds of acres of shrimp farms were washed away at Kachubunia and Lata Kathamari in Gadaipur on Wednesday.

Soladana UP Chairman SM Enamul Haque said that local people had repaired the damaged section of the bank at Bhangahari in Soladana in Paikgachha by hard work.

Paikgachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer ABM Khalid Hossain Siddiqui said that emergency steps would be taken to construct safe dams rapidly.

Md Fariduddin, Deputy Assistant Director at the BWDB, said that even though the dam had been restored four times by the government and locals, the Paikgachha region had been struck hard twice by tidal surges.

Meanwhile, the sum of Tk 3 lakh was allocated to rebuild the dam, he said.