Due to continuous rains, the water level in the Kaptai lake of Rangamati continues to rise at an unusual rate due to the hill slopes coming down from the upstream areas bordering the Indian state of Mizoram. Due to this, at least 10,500 families have become marooned due to the flooding of other upazilas including the low-lying areas adjacent to Kaptai Lake.
Students studying in schools, madrassas, farmers rearing domestic cows, goats, ducks, chickens have been suffering. There is already a shortage of pure drinking water in various areas. The local public representatives have also said that due to the sudden increase in water, there is an outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Due to the sudden rise of water in the Kaptai lake, the lower areas of Baghaichari, Langadu, Naniarchar, Jurachhari, Bilaichhari and Barkal upazilas along with the lakeside areas of Rangamati city have been inundated with water. It is also known that the local farmers are facing huge losses as a large quantity of cropland is submerged under water.
Meanwhile, NDC of Rangamati district administration and Relief Officer in charge of the district Enamul Hasan said that approximately 10 thousand 395 families have been affected by flood due to abnormal increase in water in Kaptai Lake in Rangamati. 155 villages, 3 secondary and 18 primary schools, 73 roads at the union level, 4 markets of 12 unions of Rangamati district headquarters, Baghaichhari, Longadu and Jurachhari upazilas have been submerged in sudden flood water. In the affected areas, 25 metric tons of rice and Tk. four lakh in cash have already been allotted.
According to Rangamati district administration sources, Kaptai Lake currently has 108.38 MSL of water. The lake has a maximum water holding capacity of 109 MSL. But after the construction of Kaptai Dam in 1960, there has been no dredging in the Kaptai Lake until now due to the lack of navigability of the lake, the water level has increased enormously. Due to this every year 10 to 15 thousand families living in the area around Kaptai lake are getting waterlogged.
The water in the Kaptai lake rose all day on Wednesday as the Kaptai water power station authorities kept the spillways of the Kaptai dam closed for mysterious reasons.
To inquire about this, Kaptai Hydro Power Plant Manager Engineer ATM Abduzzaher was called several times, but his connection was not available.