More areas go under water in C’nawabganj, Kushtia, Rajbari

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Oct 01: Thousands of flood affected people in Chapainawabganj and Kushtia districts have been suffering for pure drinking water.

Due to the increase in water, around 5,000 people have been marooned in Sadar and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj district.

On the other hand, thousands of families are living in extreme distress due to the sudden rise in water level in the Dawlatpur area in Kushtia district.

Water level of the mighty Padma river has increased both in Chapainawabganj and Kushtia as the 109 sluice gates of the Farakka barrage in India have been opened, said an official at the Water Development Board (WDB).

As a result water has begun to enter into the low lying area of these regions.

Chairman Mozibur Rahman said some seven wards out of nine of Paka Union have become waterlogged due to the increase of water in the Padma over the last few days.

In addition, people from the area are not getting pure drinking water, he added.

District education official source said several educational institutions including primary schools have already been shut down to save the children from numerous problems.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sadar of Chapainawabganj Alamgir Hossain has visited Alatuli union and distributed relief materials.

On the other hand, water level in the Padma in the Dawlatpur upazila of Kushtia has increased. Thousands of families are living in extreme distress due to the severe rainfall.

With the flood like situation some 17 village of Chilmary union and 18 village of Ramkrishnapur union under Dawlotpur upazila were also partly flooded.

There is a crisis of pure water and goat fodder in the area. Some 1500 hectares of land with T-Aman and early winter vegetable have gone under water, causing loss worth about Tk 10 million

A flood victim Nurul Islam at Ramkrishnapur union said relief assistance did not reach the flood-hit area even after a week.

Deputy Commissioner Aslam Hossain of Kustia said, "We have requested the Upazila Nirbahi Officer to make a list of flood affected farmers."  DC said, "We are trying to ensure first aid by standing beside them."

Meanwhile, UNB adds: In Natore, the Padma river continued to swell here after India opened all the 119 gates of Farakka barrage to ensure speedy discharge of the Ganges water following flood in Patna and 12 other districts, inundating 18 chars in Lalpur upazila.

The water level of the river almost touched the danger level at Hardinge point on Tuesday morning. The water was flowing 45cm below the red mark at Charghat point.

Meanwhile, the swelling water submerged 18 chars under three unions of Lalpur upazila, rendering about 3,000 families homeless.

According to the Times of India, New Delhi ordered the opening all the sluice gates following a request from Pataliputra MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Mr Prasad contacted Union minister for water resources and urged him to ensure that 119 gates of the Farakka barrage were raised to prevent floods in Patna and 12 other districts, sources close to Prasad said.

In Rajbari, the Daulatdia ferry and launch ghats, the gateway to the country's south-western region, have been threatened by massive erosion of the Padma.

Various establishments including educational institutions and madrasahs were threatened by the large scale erosion on the banks of the river Padma in Daulatdia and Debogram unions of Goalanda upazila under Rajbari.

Homesteads of about 200 families of three villages of Daulatdia have already been devoured. "However, the locals alleged that no effective measures have been taken yet to check the erosion".

Visiting the Daulatdia and Debogram unions of the upazila, this correspondent found that severe erosion occurred following rise of flood water for the second time. In particular, the erosion affected Mo Lo Para near the number one and two ferry ghats of Daulatdia.

About 200 families moved away to other places in last two weeks owing to massive erosion in the three villages. Homesteads of these families went under the water.

"The river current is striking directly the Daulatdia ferry ghat due to erosion in Mo Lo Para. As a result, this is causing severe loss. At the same time, various establishments including educational institutions and madrasas are being threatened," said the local residents.

Many people including Mir Malot, 60, Mojibor Kha, 50, and Joinal Mo Lo, 60 informed that the erosion has increased with the increase of flood water for the second time.

"We don't know where to go. Within last two months, the remaining more than one hundred families of Dholla Para and about 150 families of Malot Para have moved to other places," said the people of the area. Their homesteads were also in the riverbed. Besides, more 450 families are in a panicky due to erosion.

Abul Hossain of Mo Lo Para said that the erosion by the Padma was so severe that homesteads are being devoured within a short time. Many people are shifting their dwelling houses as per their affordability. However, many others cannot afford to shift their homesteads to safer place.

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