ZCZC
BSS-19
FLOOD-GAIBANDHA
Flood situation deteriorates in Gaibandha, 2.87 lakh people marooned
GAIBANDHA, July 16, 2019 (BSS) – Overall flood situation in chars and
river basin areas of the Brahmaputra river at four upazilas deteriorated
further as water level of the river is gradually increasing.
A number of villages including Farazipara, Eastkomornoi, Miahpara, West
Komornoi, Chaygharia, Analertari Godarhat Bholarbazar of Kholahati union
under Sadar upazila and Purbapara, Kutipara, Munshipara, Baniarzan,
Bridgeroad Kalibaripara, Aquaestatepara, Sarkerpara of Gaibandha Municipality
have been submerged as flood control embankment collapsed in Kutharpara and
Godarhat area on Monday morning.
The officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) here said the
water level of Brahmaputra rose by 19 cm during the period and it was flowing
128 cm above its danger level at Fulchharighat point of the district.
The Ghagot which is overflowing at different points of the district
inundating fresh areas and the river is flowing 87 cm over its danger mark at
New Bridge Road point, they added.
With the rise of water level of Brahmaputra and Teesta, the chars and the
river basin areas including mainland of 32 unions of Sundarganj, Sadar
Fulchhari and Saghata upazila went underwater.
A total of two lakhs and 87,000 people of the upazilas have been marooned,
said Nezarat deputy collector and acting district relief and rehabilitation
officer M. Shaheedul Islam.
As many as 20,724 flood affected people of the upazilas took shelter at
114 flood shelter centres with their assets, he also said.
Due to flood, over 4500 hectares of land of standing crops particularly T-
Aus paddy, Aman seed bed, jute and summer vegetables went under flood water,
said deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension Dr. SM Ferdous.
Some 500 metric tons of various varieties of fish worth of TK 6.85 crore
and finger lings of TK 20 lakh from 1955 ponds have been washed away due to
monsoon flood this year, said district fisheries officer Abdud Dayan.
A total of 130 government primary schools of the upazilas were closed and
the academic activities were suspended there temporarily as the flood water
entered the schools, said M. Hossain Ali, district primary education officer.
Executive engineer of BWDB Mokhlasur Rahman said cracks were found at
different spots of the embankment and maintenance works are being done at the
vulnerable points of the embankment through filling up earth and sand bags on
urgent basis.
Earlier, two portions of flood control embankment at Baguria point under
Sadar upazila and Katlamari point of Fulchhari upazila were washed away by
the ragging of flood water of the Brahmaputra river on Sunday night around 11
pm, he added
Acting Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rokhsana Begum said 400 metric tons of
rice and TK 6.50 lakh including 2000 packets of dry food were distributed to
the flood and erosion victims so far through lawmakers, officials of district
and upazila administrations.
BSS/CORR/MMR/FI/ 1702 hrs