Nilphamari: The heavy downpour of month of Ashar and the rushing flood water from the upper reaches of the Teesta have swelled. The whole Teesta is swelling in the surrounding areas. In the last 72 hours, the situation has not improved and the low lying areas including the river basin have been flooded. Hundreds of families in the riverine char areas of Nilphamari have been flooded. The people living there are in crisis of dry food and pure drinking water.
From 3 pm on Sunday (June 28), the Teesta River is flowing at 20 centimeters above the danger level at Dalia barrage point. This situation has been prevailing at Dalia barrage point for the last three days.
Due to the increase in water in the river, crop lands including vegetable fields in the char areas have been submerged. The dam at East Kharibari Tapurchar has been damaged due to the water flowing over the danger zone. Many trees and houses have been destroyed. There has been a shortage of pure drinking water among the marooned people and there has been a shortage of livestock dwelling. Many have lost their homes in the river and are living on boats. Many families are still at risk of erosion.
Moinul Haque, chairman of Tepakharibari Union Parishad in Dimla upazilla of the district, said, more than 600 families in the union are stranded due to rising water level in the Teesta river. In the East Kharibari Tapurchar area, 500 meters of the 2,000 meter sand dam built by the voluntary ashram was washed away by the last flood. This time the flood has again washed away 200 meters of the dam.
Jhunagachh Chapani Union Parishad Chairman Aminur Rahman told Barta24.com, the houses of 34 families of Vendabari and Chatunama mouzas of the union have been washed away in the Teesta river in the face of erosion. Another 40 families are being evacuated by boat. About 800 families are marooned.
Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jayshree Rani Roy told Barta24.com, 3120 families in the char areas of Tepakharibari, Khagakhgibari and Jhunagachchapani Unions of the upazilla are marooned. In the meantime, the families whose homesteads have been devoured in the river were given dry food and Taka two thousand s in cash. Besides, 47.8 metric tons of rice has been given.
Water Development Board(WDB) Dalia Division Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam told Barta24.com the water level of Teesta River at Dalia Barrage Point is less than 5 cm in the morning but at present it is flowing at 20 cm above the danger level. All the 44 gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open. The water may decrease from tomorrow (Monday).