Onrush of upstream water, rain trigger flood in Kurigram

Onrush of upstream water, rain trigger flood in Kurigram

All the rivers have started to swell, triggered by the onrush of water from the upstream and rain, inundating low-lying areas in different upazilas of Kurigram district.

Some 10,000 people in the char areas have been affected as the river water entered their houses and submerged the roads.

The Dudhkumar river at Pateshwari Sonahat Rail Bridge point was flowing almost at the danger level in Bhurungamari upazila while the water level of Dharla, Brahmaputra and Teesta rivers has also increased.

People were seen moving on boats while vegetable farms, Aman rice seed-beds and jute farms were inundated.

Abed Ali, Union Parishad member of Bamandanga, said the water of Dudhkumar river started to enter the locality from Tuesday.

Though the authorities concerned have dumped G.O. bags but the 250 metre flood protection dam collapsed due to the strong current.

Marjina Begum, a resident of Uttar Nauabash village in Sadar upazila, said that she, along with her family, took shelter at the flood protection dam on Wednesday as the flood water entered her house.

Biplab, a vegetable trader in the area, said, “I cultivated pointed gourd on one bigha of land, and I was happy with the good yield. But the flood water damaged my vegetables.”

The executive magistrate of Kurigram Water Development Board said there is a possibility that the river water may cross the danger level on June 23 but there is no possibility of long-term flood.

Saidul Arif, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram district, said all-out preparation has been taken to tackle the flood situation and 541 metric tonnes of rice, Tk 10.21 lakh and dry foods are in stock for distributing in time to the flood affected areas.