Flood situation deteriorates in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Sept 2 (BSS): Flood situation in chars and Brahmaputra river basin area of four upazilas in the district deteriorated further as Brahmaputra marked rise in last 24 hours.

The officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board said water level of the river Brahmaputra increased by 10 cm during the period due to onrush of hilly waters from the upstream and incessant rainfall and was flowing 24 cm above the danger level at Fulchharighat point.

The chars and river basin areas of Kapasia and Chandipur unions under Sundarganj upazila, Kamarjani and Mollarchar unions under Sadar upazila, Fazlupur, Erendabari, Gozaria, Fulchhari and Urya unions under Fulchhari upazila and Holdia and Saghata unions under Saghata upazila had been inundated leaving 1, 16, 503 people marooned.

As a result, the standing crops particularly Aman seed bed, Aus variety, T-Aman paddy and seedbed of late variety Ganzia paddy including summer vegetables went under flood water making farmers worried and frustrated about their food security.

M. Saiduzzaman, chairman of Mollarchar union of Sadar upazila, said the houses of the char people of the union and T-Aman paddy field including seed bed of Ganzia paddy went under flood water creating immense sufferings to the flood victims.

Many flood victims had taken shelter on nearby flood control embankment and were passing their days miserably with their belongings including domestic animals and poultry birds for want of food, drinking water and animal food said Nurunabi Sarkar, chairman of Kamarjani union.

Besides, another major river Ghagot which flowing through the main land of the district also registered rise by 14 cm during the period and was flowing 64 cm above its danger mark at New Bridge point of the district town.

As a result, fresh areas in both sides of the river Ghagot had also been submerged and crop land particularly T-Aman paddy and other seasonal vegetables went under flood water.

A portion of flood control embankment in Dashani area under Kholahati union is also threatened as it might be collapsed anytime due to the strong current of the river Ghagot, said Ibrahim Khalil Ulfat, chairman of Kholahati union parishad. Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Mir Abdur Razzak said 3,079 hectares of cropland of 29 unions of four upazilas went under flood water. A total of over 100 government primary schools of four upazilas in the district were closed as the flood water entered into the schools, said district primary education officer AKM Amirul Islam. Talking to the news agency deputy commissioner M. Ehsan-e-Elahi said the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management has allocated a total of 500 tonnes of rice and Tk 1.1 million for the flood victims.

Some 298 tonnes of rice and Taka 5,83,500 had already been distributed among the flood victims, he said.