Hundreds of villages in Parashuram and Fulgazi upazilas of Feni have been submerged by a third round of flooding, caused by continuous rainfall and water flow from upstream.
The flooding has resulted in various internal roads impassable, leaving thousands of people stranded and suffering.
Feni recorded 186mm of rainfall, with Parashuram experiencing 300mm, according to senior observer Mohammad Moniruzzaman of the Feni Meteorological Department on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board reported that 17 sections of the flood control embankments along the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers were breached on August 2 due to heavy rains and excess water from upstream.
In the past few days, continuous rainfall and upstream water from India have caused water to flood into the locality through the breached sections, worsening the situation.
Floodwater has entered through various areas, including the breached part of the Muhuri river dam near West Masterbari in Parashuram upazila, two sections of the dam in South Kautli Kashinagar and Champaknagar areas of Mirzanagar union, South Shaldhar near Jahir Chairman’s house in Chithalia union, and the breached parts of the Kahua and Silonia river embankments in West Mirzanagar.
As a result, roads, houses, crops, and fish enclosures have been submerged, affecting around 25,000 families in the two upazilas.
Residents have shared their struggles with the recurring floods.
Md Shaheen, from Kalikrishnanagar, said: “Our houses have been flooded three times in a few days. Everyone in the area is suffering as our homes are completely submerged.”
Ataul, a resident of Birchandranagar, noted: “Our area usually doesn’t flood, but this time the heavy rains have submerged our house.”
Ali Azam, a farmer from Nilakshi in Fulgazi upazila, lamented the loss of his crops, saying: “Our paddy fields are flooded. We planted a new seedbed only to see it submerged again. The heavy rains of the last two days have put all the lands underwater again.”
Md Abul Kashem, sub-divisional engineer of the Feni Water Development Board, explained that the erosion of 17 sections of the flood control dams on August 2 had already caused significant damage. Before repairs could be made, the recent heavy rains and upstream water flow have led to further flooding in the locality.
Parashuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Afroza Habib Shapla said: “Water is entering the locality through 12 eroded sections of the river in different areas of the upazila. More than 50 villages have been flooded, leaving millions of people trapped. The river water is flowing 55cm above the danger level. We have stocked 500 packets of dry food and 50 tons of rice to deal with the disaster.”
Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tania Bhuiyan added: “Forty villages in three unions of the upazila have been flooded, with thousands of families trapped in the water. The floodwater continues to flow into the locality with strong currents. We have stored 300 packets of dry food and 18 tons of rice in the upazila.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune