70,000 marooned in Gaibandha
26 unions flooded: Trimohoni-Balashi rail track, several protection embankments threatened
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
Floods coupled with erosion have caused havoc in Sunderganj, Gaibandha Sadar, Fulchari and Shaghata upazilas. Over 70,000 people are now marooned in shoals as Teesta, Brahmapautra, Ghagot and Karotoa rivers inundated 26 unions in the four upazilas in the last three days. The shoals look like dots on vast sheets of water. About 600 families became homeless in the last three days as surging waters devoured their homesteads and vast croplands. They and many others from the shoals have moved to embankments and other safer high lands. Some local NGO's are taking them to safer places. The district administration said they do not have any logistics to rescue the marooned people. Bhaserpara, Sayedpur and Balsshi areas in Fulchari upazila are the worst affected by Brahmaputra erosion. A two-year-old son of one Rashedul at Dhanghara village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila drowned in floodwater on Monday, official sources said. Rail communication between Trimohoni and Balashi ghat is threatened at a point five kilometres from Gaibandha town as floodwater washed away soil from under the track, causing several cracks. Trains are moving with caution, railway officials said. The surging waters have badly affected many of the vulnerable points in flood control embankments. Water Development Board (WDB) officials who visited the vulnerable points in river control embankments said they are monitoring the situation and dumping sand bags where necessary. They said all the four rivers are now steady. The Ghagot and the Brahmaputra are still flowing above their danger marks and the rest two are flowing below their red marks. Cracks have developed at six points in Gaibandha town protection embankment, four points in Sonail embankment, one point at Kamornai embankment, two points at Karotoa embankment at Gobindaganj and at three points at Nurullar Bell embankment. Many were seen shifting their structures from Kamarjani river port in Gaibandha Sadar, badly affected the Brahmaputra erosion. Fulchari upazila headquarters is now on the verge of being washed away. It is now only about 30 feet from the mighty Jamuna. The river has already surrounded the headquarters on three sides. People there are shifting houses elsewhere.
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