Houses, schools, and madrasas have been devoured by the Padma River in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur in a wild water level rise, causing severe river erosion in the past couple of days.
Due to the sudden river erosion since last week, two hundred homes, a community clinic, a three-storey school building, and a madrasa in Charnajat, Kathalbari, and Bandarkhola unions of the upazila, have gone underwater.
Sources said that previously in August, river erosion claimed land, schools, culverts, and about five hundred homes in the three unions of the upazila.
Four schools, two community clinics, and other essential infrastructure are also currently at risk due to ongoing erosion. Apart from the Padma river erosion, erosion in the Arial Kha river, also since last week, has left people of Shannashichar union and Shiruail union homeless.
Upazila Education Officer Md Rafiqul Islam said: "Areas near river embankments in the upazila are extremely dangerous. Alternative measures will be taken so that students who lost their schools are not deprived of an education."
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Al Noman said: "There are strong currents in the Padma and an alarming rate of erosion. Geo-bags will be dumped soon to control the damage."