Thousands of homes inundated as sudden flash flood hits Feni

More than a thousand homes in five villages under Fulgazi upazila of Feni district flooded due to incessant rainfall for the past few days and the sudden onrush of water from the upper catchment of India.

On Saturday night, water entered into the villages after flood control dams of Muhuri River near the house of Mohammad Ullah, North Daulatpur, Fulgazi’s UP points collapsed due to heavy rain. As a result, at least five villages including South Daulatpur and Ghania Mora, Shahapara, and Sreepur in Fulgazi upazila were inundated by the water from the hill slope coming down from the upper reaches through the erosion part.

Besides, about a few thousand seedlings of aman were submerged in water. Farmers are worried about their crops being submerged in water, said Fulgazi UP chairman Abdul Alim.

Water Development Board executive engineer Md Jahir Uddin said embankment repairing works cannot be started due to heavy current in the river.

Earlier in July, 7-8 places were eroded. At that time more than 20 villages were flooded.

Rafique Mia of Daulatpur area said he had planted aman and khira on eight and a half acres of land. The fields were submerged into floodwaters. All the farmers in the area are worried about the floodwater.

Phulgazi Upazila Agriculture Officer Mominul Islam said aman paddy have been planted on 6,200 hectares of land and winter vegetables on 40 hectares of land in 5 UPs of the upazila.

Feni Water Development Board sub-divisional engineer Akhter Hossain visited the spot on Sunday morning. When asked about the breach in the dam, he said the water level has been on the danger label at 60 cm above since yesterday night. Local people's representatives and common people are working together to prevent any other dam from breaking.