KHULNA, Aug 22 (UNB): Low-lying areas in Koyra and Paikgachha upazilas of Khulna district have been flooded by tidal surge, leaving thousands of people marooned.
Locals said floodwater poured into the cyclone Amphan-hit villages in Koyra and Paikgachha upazilas, causing breaches to embankments and thus worsening the sufferings of people.
The water levels in the Shibsa, Kapotakkho and Koyra rivers in Khulna saw a rise following strong tidal surge, inundating fresh areas.
In Koyra upazila, four villages - No-2 Koyra, No-3 Koyra, Gobra and Bedkashi villages -- have been inundated due to breaches in an embankment at five points on Friday, said Shafiqul Islam, chairman of Koyra upazila parishad.
On Wednesday, Kazipara, Putihari, Harinkhola, Kashirhat Khola and Ghatakhali of Koyra upazila were flooded, affecting 10,000 people.
Villagers have been trying to protect the embankment since Thursday.
Koira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Animesh Biswas said water has entered the villages due to the pressure of the tidal water.
In Paikgachha, breaches have developed in the dam of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in four unions due to the tidal surge inundating ponds, croplands and houses.
WAPDA dam in Tengramari and Bhanga Haria of the same union collapsed on Wednesday, flooding 5,000 bighas of shrimp farms and causing severe damages to crops.
Besides, Hariya dam had collapsed on Wednesday due to the pressure of water from the Shibsa River in Paikgachha upazila. Local chairman SM Enamul Haque along with more than 400 people voluntarily repaired the dam.
Besides, hundreds of acres of shrimp farms were washed away on Wednesday at Kachubunia and Lata Kathamari in Gadaipur.
In Barguna, ten villages have been flooded following collapse of Majherchar embankment in Bishkhali river for torrential rain in the last couple of days influenced by low in the Bay of Bengal.
Several thousand people have been marooned as water entered Barguna town and adjacent Patharghata Padma, Badarkhali, Majherchar, Gulishakhali, Patakata, Fuljhuri Bazar police camps, health clinics, launch ghats, ferry ghat and kheyaghat areas. More than 50 fish enclosures, betel nut field and Aman paddy field were submerged by water.