More than 1,000 people of several villages at Koyra upzila upazila under the district are reportedly in danger as the Kapotakhsa River has devoured a large portion of the Gobra-Ghatakhali embankment recently.
The villages include Koyra Sadar, Gobra, Ghatakhali, Horinkhola, 2 No Koyra, Modinabad and 1 No Koyra, said section officer Abdul Matin of Water Development Board (WDB).
“Around three kilometer area has been devoured by river erosion,” said Koyra Union Parishad member Shaikh Abul Kalam Azad.
“The incident was informed to the WDB authorities but they had not paid any heed to it,” the UP member added.
The UP member also expressed deep concern as the affected people took shelter on the embankment and the erosion was going on heavily.
Aftab Uddin, a social worker, said the total embankment might collapse anytime if the effective measures should not be taken.
Abdus Salam, 50, a farmer of Gobra village said that he had lost his croplands due to the erosion. Osman Goni, 45, a grocer of Ghatakhali village said that the river grasped his shop recently. “Now I am quite helpless,” he lamented with tearful eyes.
“We are living in fear round the clock and passing sleepless night as the river erosion devoured our homesteads,” said Abul Kalam of Modinabad village.
Md Abdul Malek, executive engineer of the WDB, said proposal for protection of the embankment was sent to the authorities concerned. Repairing works would be started after approved the project, he added.
UNO Sayed Eramul Kabir said the information about the incident was sent to the WDB.
They would take proper steps in this regard, he also said.
