The disaster-prone communities living along the riverbanks of the mighty Padma River are now passing sleepless nights as they increasingly get gripped by the fear of a further deterioration of the current flood situation and the upcoming erosion that usually follows the monsoon.
The low-lying areas along the river have been inundated and about 7,500 families in 13 unions under the five upazilas of the district are suffering from an acute crisis of food, water and cattle fodder.
Besides, vast areas of croplands, seedbeds and vegetable fields have been washed away as well.
Meanwhile, before the completion of the embankment protection dam in the district town, a 500-metre area of concrete blocks have already collapsed in the past one and a half months.
According to the district Water Development Board (WDB) sources, as of Tuesday morning, the Padma was flowing above the danger mark in all the three gauge station points in Rajbari.
The water level at Daulatdia point increased by 2cm in the last 24 hours and the river was flowing 53cm above the danger mark.
Meanwhile, the water level at Sengram point dropped by 5cm and the river was flowing 61cm above the danger mark. Besides, the water level at Mahendrapur point remained unchanged.
WDB Executive Engineer Abdul Ahad said: “The water level of the Padma has peaked and it should begin to recede now. As the floodwater recedes there will be erosion, for which we have already taken the necessary preventive measures.”
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Syed Ariful Haque said: “A total of 7,515 families are currently stranded in 13 unions including 1,100 in Rajbari Sadar, 1,230 in Pangsha, 1,950 in Goalanda, 3,200 in Kalukhali and 35 in Baliakandi.”
“We have allocated Tk2 lakh as financial aid for the flood victims in each upazila. Besides, we also have allocated 33 tons of rice for Sadar upazila and 20 tons of rice for the remaining four upazilas,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Dilsad Begum said: “We’ve almost finished compiling a list of all those who’ve become marooned by the recent flood in the district. We will soon begin distributing relief items to those affected people. We are fully prepared to deal with the flood situation.”