Due to continuous heavy rains and hill slopes coming down from upstream, the water of Brahmaputra, Teesta, Karatoa, Ghaghat rivers are rising rapidly in Gaibandha.
According to the information provided by Gaibandha Water Development Board at 3 pm on Thursday, the water of Brahmaputra river has increased by 70 cm in the last 24 hours and is flowing 72 cm above the Vipatseema at Phulchari point. On the other hand, the water of Ghaghat river has increased by 9 cm and is flowing 20 cm above the boundary line in the new bridge area. However, the waters of Teesta and Karatoa rivers are still flowing below the danger level. As a result, thousands of people have been trapped in water due to the flooding of the lower areas along the river banks.
It is known that the water in all the rivers of the district started rising again due to the heavy rains of the last few days and the water coming down from the upstream. Because of this, the river banks and lower areas have started getting flooded. Several houses and various crops in these areas are getting submerged in water. Thousands of people are stuck in water. As a result, there has been flood fear among the people of these areas. Due to the rise in water, several areas are being flooded in the riverine char areas of Gaibandha Sadar, Sundarganj, Phulchari and Saghata upazilas.
Mollarchar, Kamarjani, Ghagoa of Sadar Upazila, Fazlupur of Phulchari, Erendabari areas surrounded by the Brahmaputra river have started getting flooded. As a result of the rise in water, the houses in the low-lying areas are flooded with new areas. The water-logged people of these areas are worried about their domestic animals. On the other hand, the areas of Haripur, Kapasia, Tarapur of Sundarganj have started flooding as the Teesta water is rising again.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon, at least 30 feet area of the dam collapsed in South Ulya area of Bharatkhali Union of Saghata Upazila. In this, a large area of Bharatkhali Union including Chiniraptal of Ghuridah Union, Khamar Pavantair, Gobindpur of Haldia Union, Bera, Garamara, Dighalkandi, Patilbari, Guabadi, Kalurpara, Kanaipara, Kumarpara and Jumarbari Union’s Kathur, Thaiker Para and Purba Amdir Para have been flooded. At least 15,000 people in the flooded area are trapped in water. Vast areas of these areas are flooded with monsoon crops including jute, cown, sesame and vegetables. Children, elderly and cattle of the family are in trouble due to flood.
Saghata Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Mosharf Hossain Sweet said that six wards of his union were flooded and around five to six thousand people were trapped in water. Water-logged people and fodder crisis are feared. Urgently, there is a crisis of food and cattle in these areas, along with the flood-affected people.
Hafizul Haque, executive engineer of Gaibandha Water Development Board, said that the water in all the rivers and streams in Gaibandha is rising due to heavy rains and heavy rains. However, the water of Brahmaputra and Ghaghat rivers is flowing over Vipatseema. The Water Development Board is prepared to deal with all types of risks.