Although the flood situation in Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazilas of Sherpur has improved slightly due to the continuous rains, 6 unions of Sadar and Nakla upazilas have been flooded.
Aman paddy-vegetable crops have been extensively damaged in the districts including Nalitabari and Jhenaigati of Sherpur. More than 2500 ponds and fish farms were also washed away. The farmers of the district have been greatly affected by this. The victims are worried about how to compensate for this loss.
The agriculture department says that the actual extent of damage will be assessed once the water recedes completely. The list will be sent to the ministry regarding bringing the affected farmers under incentives.
Meanwhile, on Sunday and in the last three days, the number of people drowned in flood water and electrocuted has increased to 7 people. Among them, five people including two brothers died in Nalitabari and one farmer died due to drowning in Jhenaigati and electrocution in Nakla flooded area.
According to the local responsible sources including the district administration, new villages are being flooded by the continuous rains of the last few days and the water coming down from the mountains from the upstream of India. Although the water level in Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazilas has gone down a little, at least three hundred villages in the lower areas including Sadar and Nakla upazilas have been flooded. Aman plantations, fish enclosures and vegetable plantations have been damaged.
Meanwhile, 7 people, including an old woman, died in Nalitabari, Jhenaigati and Nakla of Sherpur due to drowning and electrocution. At least 47,000 hectares of arable land in the district, including Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazilas, have been submerged in the flood water.
Besides, 1000 hectares of vegetables have been damaged. And more than 2500 fish cages have sunk. Aman and fishermen have been affected by this. At least two lakh farmers of the district have been affected by this flood.
Shaukat Osman, an agricultural trader in Nalitabari city, said, Due to the breaking of dams on Bhogai and Chellakhali rivers in the upazila and overflowing of the river bank, the people of those areas were damaged in 10 union and municipal cities including Ramchandrakura, Kakarkandi, Nanni, Poragaon, Nayabil, Baghber, Kalspar, Morichpuran, Yogania, Rajnagar. It is watertight. New areas are getting flooded as rain continues. Due to the damage of various types of crops and houses across the district, there is a risk of loss of assets of thousands of crores of rupees.
Deputy Director of District Agriculture Extension Department. Sukalp Das said that the Aman paddy and vegetable crops of three upazilas were destroyed due to landslides. The damage will depend more or less on the receding water. Once the water recedes completely, the actual extent of damage can be assessed. Then the list will be sent to the ministry regarding bringing the affected farmers under incentives.
Meanwhile, the administration has declared all educational institutions in the flood-affected areas of the district as shelters. Relief has been distributed by the district administration in several flood affected areas.
With the help of Nalitabari and Jhenaigati upazila administrations, volunteers tried to rescue the people trapped in water overnight. Later, the army personnel also conducted the rescue operation.
Asaduzzaman, chief engineer of Water Development Board, inspected the broken dam of Maharshi river in Jhenaigati and assured to repair it soon. He said, ‘There is no opportunity to raise the dam of the Maharshi river. However, the damaged area will be repaired quickly.
Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Tarafdar Mahmudur Rahman said about the flood situation and government relief distribution on Sunday afternoon, ‘people have become waterlogged due to continuous rain and torrential water. Many of them are in shelters. Cooked food is being distributed to the shelters in three upazilas under the initiative of the local administration. Army, BGB, Police and Fire Service are cooperating in the rescue work.
The Deputy Commissioner said, ‘We have enough dry food in our collection. So far, 10,000 packets of dry food have been distributed to water-affected families. Another 25,000 packets of relief have been demanded. The affected farmers will be fully supported later.
(Dhaka Times/October 6/SIS)
Source: www.dhakatimes24.com
