Cyclone Remal, distressed people are wailing on Kalapara coast

An uprooted tree smashed a pick-up van in Kalapara as Cyclone Remal hit the Khulna Coast on Monday.

Patuakhali: Due to the impact of Cyclone Remal, the distressed people are crying out on the Kalapara coast of Patuakhali. Although Cyclone Remal has crossed the coast, strong winds are still blowing, moderate to heavy rainfall is intermittent. Crop fields, fish enclosures, ponds have been submerged in water. Many people whose houses have been destroyed have taken shelter under the open sky with their families and cattle on relatively high ground, some have taken shelter in Mujib Qilla. Innumerable trees were uprooted and the internal road communication was about to be closed. So ignoring the rain, fire service and locals are trying to remove trees from the road. The entire upazila has lost electricity and mobile phone network. Citizens of Kalapara Municipal City are not getting water service for the last two days.

In addition, the dam of the Water Development Board broke and flooded village after village. At least 30,000 people in vulnerable areas have stayed in shelters to protect their lives, but they are worried about the future with their families. Thousands of families are still under water. Upazila administration and public representatives provide dry and cooked food to these poor people but it is insufficient compared to the requirement. However, these distressed people believe that if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina comes to the ground and sees their condition, all the problems will be solved quickly.

Earlier, a young man named Md. Sharif (24) died after drowning in the unusual tidal water in Kawarchar area of the upazila on Sunday afternoon. Deceased Sharif is the son of Abdur Rahim of Anantapara area of Dhulasar UP under the upazila.

According to upazila administration sources, the number of people affected by Cyclone Remal in Kalapara has reached 75 thousand 130 people. 140 houses were completely destroyed and 620 partially destroyed. Upazila administration and local public representatives are providing cooked food to the affected people every day. One and a half thousand families are still without water. The damage assessment is going on, it will take two days to compile the actual damage list.

Md. Shah Alam, sub-divisional assistant engineer of Kalapara Water Development Board said, East Goyatla, Lemupara, Champapur, Manjupara, Munsi Para, Nizampur, Jalalpur, Dhulasar, Baliatli, Debpur, Nachnapara, Bara Kalbari, Christian Para, Charanda, Chram are the areas of Paubo. 9.19 km in 22 spots of Montaz, Chalanbuniya Bara Baishdia embankment. The embankment was damaged, initially the damage amount was around 11.5 crores.

Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said that 2465 ponds and 778 enclosures of fish in the upazila were washed away in the rampage of Remal. Its losses estimated taka 14 core in preliminary assumption.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Arafat Hossain said that 20,000 hectares of arable land of the upazila has been submerged in water due to Cyclone Remal. Farmers' orchards of bitter gourd, shrimp, saffron, pooi, gima kalmi, chichinga, cucumber, banana and mango gardens have been affected.

Kalapara Disaster and Relief Officer Md. Humayun Kabir said that work is underway to assess the damage caused by the disaster. Forest Department, Agriculture, Education, LGED, Water Development Board and all concerned have been sent in writing asking for information on erosion damage. Besides, we are helping the affected people under the round-the-clock supervision of the Minister of State for Disaster.

Kalapara UNO Md. Rabiul Islam said, so far we have allocated 130 metric tons of rice, 6 lakh cash and dry food for the affected people. Necessary allocation will be available as per demand if necessary. Besides, the State Minister for Disasters, Principal Md. Mohibbur Rahman, is constantly monitoring the affected people of Kalapara.- Gofran Biswas Palash