Six embankments collapse in Lalmonirhat flooding fresh areas

The flood situation in Lalmonirhat worsened further as six embankments collapsed due to strong current in the Teesta and Dharla rivers, inundating fresh areas of the district.

Following the collapse, some 19 villages went under water freshly and more than one hundred houses were eroded by the rivers.

Road and train communications between Lalmonirhat and Burimari routes have remained suspended for second consecutive day due to severe erosion in different places.

Meanwhile, people in the flood-hit areas are suffering from scarcity of food and drinking water. Only 160 tonnes of rice and Tk 4.50 lakh in cash have been allocated for over one lakh flood-affected people.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive engineer of Water Development Board at Dalia division, said Teesta River was flowing five centimetres above the danger mark at Dalia point while Dharla was flowing 135 centimetres above the danger level at Kulaghat point on Monday morning.

To control the water, the Teesta Barrage Authorities have opened its all gates at Dalia point, he added.

Many of flood-hit victims claimed that people in 63 chars and char villages have remained marooned by flash flood for the last five days but they got insufficient government relief, forcing most of them to starve.

Rajpur union parishad chairman Mofazzal Hossian said in last five days, 50 houses were devoured by the river while flood situation of 17 villages under his union worsened. But the administration allocated only 130-kg of rice for 25,000 flood-affected people.

Saniajan UP chairman Abdul Gafur echoed the same adding that he received only 75-kg of rice and a poor amount of dry food in against of 6,000 flood victims.

Waterborne diseases are spreading in the flood-hit areas. District civil surgeon Amiruzzaman said some 54 medical teams are working in the flood-hit areas. However, no activities of medical teams were seen while visiting the spots.

More than one hundred schools were closed as floodwaters entered inside the buildings.

District education officer Nobez Uddin said academic activities in 197 educational institutions in the district have remained suspended due to floods.

Admitting the shortage of relief supply, Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner M Shafiul Arif said distribution of 160 tonnes of rice and Tk 4.50 lakh in cash is going on. Upazila nirbahi officers will distribute those relief items gradually.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net