Thousands of people at 50 villages in Barguna have been marooned following collapse of an embankment on Saturday night.
Local sources said the embankment had collapsed because of rise in the water level in Bishkhali, Buriswar, Boleswar and Khakdan rivers.
As a result, many low-lying areas of Barguna sadar, Betagi and Patharghata upazilas of the district have been submerged, causing immense suffering for the people.
Moreover, Baliatoli, Boro Baliatoli and Chhoto Baliatoli villages under Baliatoli union parishad, Jhopkhali and Bholanathpur villages under Betagi Sadar union parishad have been inundated because of collapse of the embankment.
According to Barguna Water Devolopment Board, several rivers surrounding the district was flowing 52cm above danger level on Saturday night.
Rahim Uddin, a resident of Betagi, said the newly constructed embankment had caved in on Saturday night because of high tides in the Boleshwar river.
He said marooned people had been suffering from scarcity of water as most of tube wells have been inundated.
“Several hours passed since the embankment collapsed, but nobody from the WDB visit the affected areas,” he said.
The calamity-struck people are always deprived of government assistance because of negligence of the local union parishad chairman.
Rosul Mia, a resident of Chhoto Baliatoli village, said if the collapsed part of the embankment at Baliatoli point is not repaired soon, the situation might go out of control.
He said, “Every year we suffer because of embankment collapse, but the authority concerned do not take permanent measures to solve the problem,” he said.
He said many people have already taken shelter at schools as well as cyclone centres, he added.
Executive Engineer of Water Development Board told the Dhaka Tribune that they were aware of the collapse in the embankment.
He said they would not be able to repair the dam as they did not have sufficient funds.
