Over 200 families marooned in Jashore flood

Over 200 families of Shantipur and Ramnagar villages remain stranded after Atai River water breached an embankment in Siddipasha union of Jashore's Abhaynagar upazila.

A 200-metre stretch of the embankment collapsed due to lack of repair-work, continuous rainfall for days, and tide induced water level rise, local sources said.

The Atai River is connected with the Majudkhali River, which flows from the Trimohoni point of the Bhairab River in Siddipasha union.

Milon Biswas, a resident of Shantipur, said the water level in the Atrai River rose several feet above normal due to several days of heavy rain and tides. Since Tuesday, water began entering a 200-meter stretch of the embankment in the Rishipara area, flooding hundreds of households in both villages, he added. "Fish enclosures have been washed away, and croplands and rural roads went underwater."

Selim Rahman of Ramnagar village said that although the embankment was constructed by the Water Development Board, no repairs have been made for a long time, which allowed water to enter through the weakened portions after tides.

Expressing frustration, he added, "Every year during the monsoon, we suffer huge losses. We are forced to live in dire conditions being marooned."

Sheikh Abul Kashem, chairman of Siddipasha Union Parishad, said, "We will speak with the upazila administration and the Water Development Board to take steps for repairing the embankment."

Abhaynagar UNO Partha Pratim Shil said the flooding was caused in the two villages as water entered following tides. "We have spoken with the Jashore Water Development Board. They have assured us that they will take immediate steps to temporarily repair the vulnerable part of the embankment. A sustainable renovation will be carried out after the monsoon," he said.

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