COX'S BAZAR, July 18: Under the influence of low over the Bay and new moon, at least 18 villages of Kutubdia island have been inundated by tidal surge.
Nearly 10,000 villagers marooned by tidal water since Monday.
According to sources, Bay waters severely entering into the locality through the broken embankment of the Island as sea water flowing over three feet high than normal.
Kutubdia upazila chairman ATM Nurul Bashar Chowdhury said more than 300 people shifted to cyclone shelters till Tuesday evening.
He said that water marooned people facing scarcity of food.
Most of the villages of six unions of the island are inundated by sea water.
Severely affected villages are Kaisarpara, Foyzanir para, Char Dhurong of Uttar Dhorong union, Kahar Para, Kazir Para, Teli Para, Kumirar Chara, Jele Para of Ali Akbar Daill union and Ali Fakir Dail village of Uttar Dhorong union.
Local people alleged that about 20 km long embankment lying unrepired for last few years.
As a result people of Kutubdia affected by tidal surge in the rainy season.
Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board Rakibul Hasan said that government allocated Tk 920 million to construct the 14 km embankment. Construction works already started, he said.
Due to gusty wind tamarisk (jhaw tree) of 200 hector acres land near Cox's Bazar sea beach damaged in coastal areas of the district, divisional forest office sources said.
On the other hand, Cox's Bazar met office recorded 80 mm rainfall in last 24 hours.
Maritime ports of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram have been advised to continue hoisting local cautionary signal number three as the well marked low over North-West Bay and adjoining areas is moving slightly westward.
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