Flood Situation Improves in Kurigram

As the water level in many rivers, including Brahmmaputra, is receding, the overall flood situation in Kurigram has improved.

On Friday morning, at Chilmari point, the local Water Development Board said the Brahmmaputra was flowing 4 cm above its danger level while Dharla, Teesta, Dudhkumar were flowing under the danger mark, reports UNB.

The residents of nine Upazilas have been hit hard by the flood of the fifth phase that flooded crops, highways, houses and disrupted normal life.

River flooding has taken a severe turn in some areas, threatening the assets and lives of individuals.

WDB 's executive engineer, Ariful Islam, said there was no risk of more flooding.

Saidur Rahman, chairman of the Bhogdanga Union, said that over the past week, around 350 houses in the areas of Bhogdanga, Jatrapur and Mogolbasha in Sadar Uzzila have been devoured by the river.

The concerned authorities are working to stop the erosion of rivers, he said.

District Fisheries Officer Kalipodo Roy said 100.29 metric tons of fish were washed away from 431 ponds this year. A loss of Tk 90.21 lakh was suffered by the fish farmers.

Besides, 18,450 hectares of cropland has been inundated.

Those who lost their homes in the recent erosion, meanwhile, have thronged the houses of public officials requesting food assistance.

Saidur Rahman, chairman of the Bhogdang Union in Sadar Upazila, said that Dharla in Jagmohon Char had lost at least 105 homes. The river water also went into a primary school building.

At least 10,000 people have been affected in the area.

“The relief assistance is inadequate,” he said.

The Chairman of the Moglabasa Union, Nuruzzaman Babul, said that some 144 houses in the Malbhanga, Palligram, Charkrishnapur areas have been devoured by the river.

Ayub Ali, chairman of the Jatrapur Union, said Brahmmapurta devoured 90 houses in the union's porarchar, Bhagbatipur, Shiberpachi, Khaserchar, Baldipara and Parbatipur areas last week.

A list of affected house owners was sent to the local office seeking assistance.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim said the flood victims were given 85MT rice, 2000 packets of dry food, Tk 2.5 lakh cash, Tk 4 lakh for fodder and Tk 1 lakh for baby food.

According to a regular bulletin released on Thursday by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 263 people died, while 87,016 people were affected by the ongoing floods.

Recent flash floods have badly affected Lalmonirhat, Kurigram Gaibandha, Nilphamari Rangpur, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Bogura, Jamalpur, Sylhet and Tangail districts, while 269 upazilas have been affected.