Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
The overall flood situation of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram district are improving rapidly as water level from many areas has started receding in the last 12 hours.
Our Correspondent from Lalmonirhat says, most of the low-lying areas of the district went under water due to incessant rain and onrush water from upstream of neighbouring country.
Water from the upstream and heavy rainwater have triggered a flash flood in Teesta and Dharla river basin areas.
Several thousand villagers of some unions under five upazilas have badly been affected. The croplands, roads and communications were disrupted in many areas due to waterlogging.
Teesta Barrage authorities said that the water level of the river was flowing at Dowani point 47cm under the danger mark and at Kawnia point was recorded 16cm under the danger mark the danger mark at 3pm.
Chandimari, Laxmitari Khutirpar, Gobordhan, Harinchara of Mohishkhocha under Aditmari upazila, Rajpur,Bagdora,Kholaighat,Chinatuli, Kalmati Khuniagach, Khulaghat, Bashuria, Mogolhat under sadar upazila and Votemari, Shoilmari of Kaligonj upazila , Dawabari, Shindurna, Goddimaripatikapara of Hatibandha upazila were severely affected by the floodwater.
District Primary Education Officer Shopon Kumar Roy Choudhury said classes were suspended in 19 schools due to flood in Sadar Lalmonirhat, Aditmari and Hatibandha upazilla.
Six schools in Hatibandha and 3 schools in Hatibandha are using as flood shelter home for the victims.
District administration sources said that Tk 0.5 million (5 lakhs) for child's food , Tk 0.5 million (5 lakhs) for livestock, Tk 0.3 million (3 lakhs) and 90 tonnes rice for flood victims were already distributed among the affected people in the five upazilas.
When contacted with Shunil Kumer, executive engineer of the Water Development Board (WDB) in Lalmonirhat, said that heavy rain and onrush of water triggered a flood. If the rain comes to a halt, flooding will improve soon.
UNB from Kurigram adds, Kurigram Water Development Board officials said the water levels of all rivers flowing through the district, including the Teesta, Dharala, and Dudhkumar, are currently below the danger mark. Although the floodwaters receded in the low-lying areas and char regions of the river basin, hundreds of hectares of Aman paddy fields remained submerged.
Farmers said they have to suffer severe losses due to the unexpected flooding, which inundated their Aman crops.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 431 hectares of Aman fields and other crops were submerged due to flood but with the rapid decrease in water levels, there is no possibility of crop loss this time.
However, the erosion along the Teesta River has intensified, creating worries among local people.
Bablu Mia, chairman of the Begumganj Union Parishad in Ulipur upazila, said in just three days, riverbank erosion has swallowed his homestead and that of 60 other families at Khudir Kuti village.
Besides, Abdul Hamid High School, a two-story flood shelter, and a community clinic in the area are at risk and these structures may also be lost to the river if swift action is not taken, he said.
Abdul Majid, a resident of Gharialdanga Union of Rajarhat upazila, expressed concerns saying that their crops suffered significant damage from the two days of flooding. "Teesta erosion has started and we are very worried," he added.
Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director of the Kurigram Agricultural Extension Department, said nearly 450 hectares of crops were submerged by floodwaters.
While damage to the transplanted Aman is minimal, there is concern about potential losses to other crops, he said.
Executive Engineer Md. Rakibul Hasan of Water Development Board said all rivers in the district are currently flowing below the danger level.
"We are unable to carry out necessary erosion control measures due to lack of emergency work permits. Once we receive permission, we will begin work in the erosion-affected areas," he said.