Many low-lying areas in the southern region have been inundated by tidal surges due to incessant rainfall and strong high tides.
Thousands of residents have been stranded while a large number of houses, fish farms, betel leaf gardens as well as vast tracts of croplands have been destroyed because of flooding.
Apart from that, many river protection embankments have also collapsed owing to the strong high tides.
Locals are suffering from a shortage of safe drinking water and dry food. This has added to the woes of people who have been reeling from the Amphan devastation.
People of Koyra, Paikgachha of Khulna, Manpura, Charfesson and Daulatkhan upazilas of Bhola; Hijla, Muladi, and Gournadi upazilas of Barisal; Patharghata and Sadar upazilas of Barguna; Mirzaganj and Sadar upazila of Patuakhali are the worst sufferers.
Also read - Tidal surge causes embankments to collapse, inundates villages in Khulna
According to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Meghna, Kalabadar, Arial Kha, Maskata, Burishawr, Payr, Kacha, and Baleshwar in Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, and Pirojpur districts are flowing above danger levels.
Many low lying areas adjacent to the rivers have been inundated and many betel leaf gardens were damaged along with other crops, including paddy.
Palashpur, Alekanda, Band Road, and Amanatganj area of Barisal city have been flooded, causing immense sufferings to the locals. Most of the 19 slums in the city have been flooded due to high tide and rain.
Dipak Das, executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, Barisal office, acknowledged the waters in the rivers are swelling due to incessant rainfall and upstream water.
Meanwhile, Posur, Rupsa, and Bhadra rivers in Khulna are flowing above danger level, according to the district’s Water Development Board.
Several river embankments collapsed in Koyra, upazila inundating houses with saline water. This has added to the woes of the residents who have been reeling from the Amphan devastation.
Locals repair one of the embankments collapsed in Koyra upazila of Khulna Dhaka Tribune
Residents are trying to repair embankments that collapsed at 5 points adjacent to Kapotakkho River in Harinkhola and Ghatakhali areas.
Koyra Upazila Nirbahi Officer Animesh Biswas said: “We have provided technical support where the ring embankment collapsed. Locals are voluntarily repairing the damaged embankments.
Due to the high tides, embankments built by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) collapsed in different places of Paikgacha upazila.”
Many villages including Geuyabunia, Parmodhupur and Chakri Bakri have been flooded as embankments collapsed. Around 750 bigha of fish farms were washed away.
Paikgachha upazila Nirbahi Officer ABM Kahlid Hossain said: “We are trying heart and soul to protect embankments and the lives of people of the upazila. We cannot repair the embankments of Goroikhali and Betbunia due to strong tidal surge yet. As a result, 350 families are stranded in floodwaters in these areas.”
