Erosion takes serious turn, flood waters recede in Kurigram

Teesta floods in Kurigram.

Kurigram, July 25 --Erosion has taken a serious turn in Kurigram, as waters started to recede in 16 rivers including the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar.

Due to continuous erosion, some 458 houses in the district fell into the gorge in these rivers. Those affected by the erosion are running here and there in search of shelter. People are in great distress due to lack of sanitation, and food shortage.

Meanwhile, 10 families affected by floods in the Bangladesh part have temporarily built houses for shelter near the Indian border, but the Indian Border Guard Force (BSF) is not allowing them to stay.

“BSF has given a 3-day ultimatum to the victims to move out on the pretext of the border law,” Jatrapur union chairman Abdul Ghafur told UNB. The matter was reported to BGB, he added.

“All in all, the flood victims are in dire straits.”

He also said that about 200 houses in his union have been washed away by the Brahmaputra river. Of them, 55 houses were in Bhagwatipur, 40 in Barua, 55 in Ralakata, 26 in Jhunkar Char, 11 in Parvatipur, and 13 in Char Jatrapur.

The UP chairman also said that his union was the most affected by the recent floods. Every day hundreds of needy people are flocking to his home with various problems including food items, shelter. “I am very worried about it,” he added.

He said that 17 tons of rice has been distributed to 1700 families from the government as a relief to the flood victims. Now there is nothing in the Union Parishad treasury to help them.

“A list was prepared for the shelter of 200 families affected by the floods. It will be submitted to the concerned office soon,” added the chairman.

M Abdul Hai Sarkar, an official of the District Disaster Management Directorate, confirmed that 458 houses were lost in the river due to river erosion. A total of 1,63, 000 people in 55 unions of 9 upazilas of the district were affected by the flood.

Besides, 609 metric tons of rice, Tk 35.85 lakh were distributed to mitigate the suffering of the flood hit people, he added

Mohammad Saidul Arif, deputy commissioner of Kurigram, said that the list of victims of the river is being prepared. “They will receive assistance soon.” - UNB