People of Rangpur and Kurigram are suffering due to demolition. Road has broken in Teesta Barrage area in Lalmonirhat. Breakage of spur dam at Nilphamari.
The people of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari have been affected by the river erosion after the flash floods. Water has receded from the riverside area at Gangachara in Rangpur. But human suffering has not diminished due to the demolition. About 12,000 people are still stranded in the lower reaches of the Teesta river in Patgram and Hatibandha upazilas of Lalmonirhat. Road connectivity between Barakhata-Rangpur and Nilphamari of Hatibandha is cut off. Erosion has also occurred in Kurigram. Two spur dams in Nilphamari have broken.
A sudden flood occurred in a village on the banks of the river Teesta at Gangachara in Rangpur on a hill slope coming down from the upper reaches. Approximately 10,000 people in 7 unions of the upazila were flooded. Abdul Malek, a farmer from West Ishli area of Laxmitari Union of the upazila, said, I have taken shelter in another’s house. I don’t have the money to build a new house. The resources that were there have also been washed away by the river. ‘
It was seen on the spot on Saturday that two tin houses of Fazlul Haque of West Ishli village and their furniture were washed away in the river. Landvand has become his potato and sweet pumpkin farm. He said, ‘I have taken a loan of Tk 50,000 from an NGO to grow these crops. Now I am worried about how to repay the loan.
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Asib Ahsan said the state minister for relief had visited the flood-hit area. New rice and money have been allocated. A list of affected families in each area is being compiled.
The flat bypass road in the Teesta Barrage area of Lalmonirhat has broken and the road communication between Barakhata-Rangpur and Nilphamari in Hatibandha Upazila has been cut off. Asiya Begum, a resident of Doani village in Gaddimari union of Hatibandha, said, ‘The flood waters of the river Teesta have washed away Hummer’s house. Clothes, pots and pans, chickens and goats have been seized with him.
It was seen on the spot in Dahagram union of the upazila yesterday that the flood waters of Teesta river have receded but the regional roads of 10 villages including Mahimpara, Guchhgram and Sardarpara in the vicinity of the union have been damaged by the floods.
Yesterday, in Char Jatrapur of Jatrapur Union of Kurigram Sadar Upazila, it was seen in the damaged area, the rice of the house has been left everywhere. Many are busy moving houses and cutting down trees. Char Rauliar and Rasulpur of Ghogadaha Union are two kilometers away from here. Going there, it is seen that the current of Dudhkumar river is coming from the north and breaking like a bow. Already 20 families have lost their homes.
The flash floods affected Purbachhatnai, Khagakharibari, Tepakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach Chapani and Gayabari Unions of Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari and various areas of Dauabari, Shaulmari and Kaimari Unions of Jaldhaka Upazila. According to the government, the number of affected families is about seven thousand, but this number is about one and a half times. According to Paubo sources, the spur dam in Kaliganj of the upazila has broken. Spar dams have also been breached at Dauabari and Vendabari in Gulmunda Union.
[Assisted by own correspondent, Rangpur; Representative, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Patgram, Lalmonirhat]
