People are boarding a boat, taking their belongings, and seeking shelter in the Khitab Kha area of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram as floods affect the low-lying areas of the district. Photo: TDM
As the flood situation intensifies in Kurigram district, approximately 30 meters of the flood control spur dam within the Teesta River at Burirhat in Rajarhat upazila have been washed away. The district's rivers, including the Teesta, continue to surge due to upstream water influx and unrelenting heavy rainfall. A startling 50 houses were swept into the river gorge Rajarhat upazila, and 500 houses were inundated by floodwaters.
Despite these challenges, the issue of river erosion remains persistent in specific areas, leading to the displacement of a significant number of riverside inhabitants and rendering them without land.
The chairman of Gharealdanga UP, part of Rajarhat upazila, noted that while the Teesta River's water level is decreasing, erosion continues in some sections, leading to the flooded of eight houses in Baro Darga of his union.
Meanwhile, in Sadar upazila's Jatrapur union, Chairman Alhaj Abdul Gafur reported an increase in water levels for the Brahmaputra and Dudkumar River. This rise in water has resulted in the submergence of seedlings and planted T-Aman paddy in low-lying areas.
Narayanpur UP's chairman in Nageswari upazila, Mostafizur Rahman, highlighted the substantial erosion caused by the Brahmaputra and Gangadhar River, which has affected around 100 houses in several villages within the last week.
Further devastation has been noted across Chilmari upazila, where the Brahmaputra River has eroded roughly 200 houses and extensive cropland over the past month. Additionally, parts of the RCC structure spanning 30 meters were washed away by the powerful currents of the Teesta River in the Burirhat area of Rajarhat upazila.
Roumari upazila has witnessed the erosion of 54 houses in just a week, affecting Gander Alga, Sukherbati, Ghugumari, Khedaimari, Foluarchar, and Dhonerchar villages. The Deputy Director of Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Biplab Kumar Mohonta, reported that approximately 2254 hectares of paddy, seedlings, and vegetables have been submerged.
In response, ADC (general) Minhajul Islam assured that the administration is vigilant in safeguarding educational institutes and the local bazar. Extensive relief efforts have been initiated to assist those affected by river erosion and flooding, with continuous monitoring of the situation.
Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, Abdullah al Mamun, noted ongoing projects to protect against Brahmaputra River erosion in Bandaber union under Roumari upazila. However, there is currently no project addressing erosion at Gughumari and Char Gender Alga under Char Soulmari union of the upazila.
TDM/SD
