Teesta Erosion: Lives upended, homes swept away

"We had a home and four bighas of arable land, all of which got washed away on Sunday. Now, we have become homeless and landless," said Koushulya Rani as she broke into tears.

The 50-year-old has been living on the roads since Monday with his family of five in Lalmonirhat Sadar's Rajpur village after the erosion by the Teesta river devoured all they had.

Around a hundred families are facing the same fate after the river engulfed their homesteads and over 150 bighas of arable land, including three fruit orchards, in the last couple of days.

Photo: Star

Besides, acres of cropland are at risk as the erosion has turned severe following a continued rise in the river's water level, said locals.

The erosion intensified on Monday, informed Pulin Chandra, a 65-year-old victim who lost his home and two bighas of agricultural land on Tuesday.

"We would still have our lands if the Water Development Board had taken the necessary measures in due time," alleged Pulin, who had to take shelter at a relative's house following the incident.

Like him, Naren Chandra, 60, was rendered homeless after the river claimed his three bighas of arable land.

"I have been living on the roads with my family of six for the last three days," he said.

Suresh Chandra, a 55-year-old farmer who lost two bighas of arable land in the last couple of days, alleged that WDB has initiated work to prevent erosion, but its qualityis not up to the mark.

Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat, said they have started dumping sand bags to stop the erosion.

Kamruzzaman Sujan, chairman of Sadar upazila parishad, said they are preparing a list of the victims and the upazila parishad will give them financial assistance.

"I have also requested the WDB to take all necessary measures to stop the river from eroding," he added.