At least 250 homesteads and over 175 acres of cropland including IRRI-Boro and vegetable fields in 20 villages in five upazilas were devoured by the river in the last 10 days, officials and locals said.

Many people have shifted their homes in Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur and Chowhali upazilas.

Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the river swelled by about one and a half feet during the period. High tide under the influence of new moon and solar eclipse could be the reason for the rise in water level, they said.

The worst affected villages on the west bank of Jamuna river are Panchil, Khokhshabari, Bhatpiari, Ranigram, Shimla in Sirajganj Sadar upazila; Shavogacha, Maijbari, Dhekuria, Simantabazar in Kazipur upazila; Randhunibari, Enayetpur and Shohagpur in Belkuchi upazila; Kaijuri, Monakasha, Gudhibariand Datpara in Shahajdpur upazila; and Khaskawlia, Jalalpur and Umorpur in Chowhali upazila.

This correspondent during a recent visit to Shailabari village in Sadar upazila saw at least 36 houses have been shifted to safer places in last one week due to erosion.

About 100 families in the village have become homeless and are passing days under the open sky.

At least 15 more villages along the river in Sadar upazila are now threatened by erosion, administration official in Sadar upazila said.

Like many, Alea Begum, Amena Khatun, Saiful Islam, Abul Hossain, Hosen Ali and Nayeb Ali are now homeless due to the sudden erosion. They have taken shelter on roads and flood control embankments in the area.

Sixty-five year-old Hosen Ali said at least eight villages including Doulotpur, Khidrani Brahmonboyra, Chakkhokhshabari, Naodash-ailabari and a part of Jimorh in Sadar upazila disappeared into the river.

Many locals said Sirajganj town will be threatened in the coming monsoon if steps are not taken right now to stop the erosion.

Talking to this correspondent, WDB Executive Engineer Nizamul Haq Bhuiyan said such massive erosion in summer is unusual. "We are thinking what to do. Taking up projects to stop erosion involves a long process but the erosion should be stopped right now", he said.