Heavy rain and upstream inflows have pushed the Dudhkumar above danger level in Kurigram, inundating chars, stranding families and prompting emergency food and erosion-control preparations.
Heavy rain and upstream inflows have swollen rivers across Kurigram in northern Bangladesh, inundating low-lying areas and leaving more than 100 families stranded, with the Dudhkumar River flowing 23 centimeters above the danger mark, officials said on Monday.
According to data from the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Kurigram at 9:00 am on Monday, water levels rose in all major rivers in the district. The Dudhkumar at the Pateshwari point was flowing 23 centimeters above the danger level. The Dharla at the Kurigram point was still 60 centimeters below the danger mark, the Brahmaputra at the Nunkhawa point was 93 centimeters below, at the Chilmari point 73 centimeters below, and the Teesta at the Kaunia point was 6 centimeters below.
The rise in the Dudhkumar has flooded vast low-lying areas in Paikdanga, Chhit Paikerchhara and Char Boldia in Bhurungamari upazila, as well as Char Bishnupur, Balabari, Char Luchhni and Fandarchar in Nageshwari upazila. Cropland in the low-lying areas has gone under water, leaving more than 100 families marooned, although no major damage has so far been reported.
Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Char Luchhni in Nageshwari, told by phone that the Dudhkumar began rising sharply from Sunday afternoon, submerging cropland and cutting off walking routes around homes as floodwater surrounded homesteads.
“At least a hundred families have become stranded,” he said, adding that residents were worried about fodder for their cattle.
Rakibul Hasan, executive engineer of the Kurigram office of the Water Development Board, said water levels in all rivers in the district had increased because of upstream inflows and heavy rain in the plains.
“The Dudhkumar is flowing above the danger level, but the other rivers in the district are still below their respective danger marks,” he said.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath told Prothom Alo that authorities had prepared 200,000 taka in cash assistance and 1,100 packets of dry food for people affected in inundated low-lying areas. She also said 1,000 geo bags had been kept ready for each of the district’s nine upazilas for emergency erosion control.
Responding to a question, the deputy commissioner said 200,000 taka was far from sufficient for all nine upazilas.
“The administration has allocated all the money and food it had available,” she said.
Source: The Prothom Alo
