10 primary schools shut in Lalmonirhat as Teesta swells

LALMONIRHAT, Aug 03 (UNB): Ten government primary schools along the Teesta river in Lalmonirhat district have been closed due to flash flood.
The low-lying areas by the river have been flooded as the water level is rising, rendering 15,000 families of the char areas under five upazilas of the district marooned.
The upazilas are Sadar, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Patgram.
Teesta was flowing 10 cm above the danger level at 6:00 pm on Tuesday that inundated the char areas, said Asafuddoula, Engineer of Dalia Water Development Board.
The water level started to recede since Wednesday morning as the river was flowing 13cm below the red mark at 9:00 am on Wednesday, he said.
Golam Nabi, Lalmonirhat District Primary Education Officer, said the flood water entered 10 government primary school on Tuesday, forcing the authorities concerned to shut those.
Meanwhile, erosion along the river banks has taken a serious turn in the last couple of days due to the swelling of the river.
Abu Bakar Siddiue Shyamal, chairman of Goddimari Union Parishad of Hatibandha upazila, said 2000 families of No 4 ward of the upazila have been marooned in the last two days. They are preparing a list of the affected people.
Besides, many people in Aditmari upazila have taken shelter in different centres while many on high places.
Already 30 houses at Kalamti in Aditmari upazila have been washed away into the river, forcing the affected people to live under open sky.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat, Md Abu Zafar, said the UNO concerned have been asked to keep vigil on the flood-hit people and 3,000 packets of dry food will be distributed among the flood affected people soon.