The overall flood situation in Kurigram remained unchanged till yesterday amid a rise in the Teesta River’s water level while that in the district’s other rivers fell slightly.
Executive Engineer of Water Development Board’s Kurigram office, Mahfuzur Rahman, yesterday said water level in the Teesta River rose by 12cm at Kaunia point in the last 24 hours but was still flowing below the danger level.
Water levels in the Dharala River went down by 14cm at Setu point and in the Brahmaputra River by 13cm at Chilmari point but both were still below the danger level, he said.
Traffic in Paiker Chhara area near Sonahaat bridge in Bhurungamari upazila was closed as a link road developed cracks due to strong current in the Dudhkumar River.
More than 150 villages amd 420 chars in the district remained submerged for the last five days, leaving more than one lakh people marooned. There was also riverbank erosion in some areas, compounding the problems of residents.
Jatrapur union Chairman Abdul Gafur said around 3,500 people in his union were marooned.
“On Saturday evening, a boat carrying cattle sank as there were heavy rains coupled with a cyclone, killing eight cows of a cattle trader,” he said.
Food, water crises emerge
The flood-affected people in the areas have been hit hard by an acute crisis of dry food and pure drinking water. They have also faced problems to feed the cattle.
The unpaved roads in the villages have gone under water, badly hampering road communication. Villagers are relying on boats and rafts made from banana trees to move.
Ansar Ali of Astamir Char in Chilmari upazila said he was very concerned about the flood situation.
“We are already in deep trouble because of the flood. It is very difficult to go somewhere in this situation. There is no boat here which adds to our woes,” he said.
Ansar, who makes his living by doing menial jobs, said he had been without work for almost a week. “The situation seems to be worsening and I do not know what will happen in the coming days.”
Sultana, who lives in Charjatrapur village under Kurigram Sadar upazila, said the tube well in the house had been inundated, aggravating the problem of pure drinking water.
“We are literally living in water for five days and the tube well has also gone under water.
“We need to bring water and food from outside but that is also a big trouble because there is no boat here. Our problems know no bounds,” said the woman.
