Wailing of Teesta bank people

The River Teesta has become turbulent again due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from upstream. The water is increasing and flowing over danger level. The lowlands have been flooded. Nearly ten thousand families of Gangachara, Pirgachha and Kaunia upazillas of Rangpur on the banks of Teesta have been flooded. River erosions have occurred with the increase of water. As a result, the wailings of the marooned people are increasing due to the lack of necessary assistance including the crisis of dry food.

At 9 am on Saturday (July 11), Teesta water at Dalia Point flowed 28 cm above the danger level. Authorities have opened all the water gates at Dalia Point to control water. However, with the increase of the time, the water has decreased a bit. At around 12 noon, water flowed over 20 cm above the danger level.

It has been raining for three days in a row and the water level in Teesta, Jamuneshwari and Ghaghat in Rangpur has started rising. Thousands of families have been inundated by flooding in the lower reaches of the Teesta Basin. Embankment in Kolkonda Union of Gangachara has been eroded about 100 feet.

ASM Aminur Rashid, sub- assistant engineer (water branch) of Teesta Barrage, said the water level in the Teesta River continued to rise on Friday (July 10) due to heavy rains and heavy onrush from upstream. The water level increased at night and flowed over 38 cm of the danger level. On Saturday morning, it was a little less, but now it is going up and down of danger level.

Due to rising water level in the river Teesta, about two and a half thousand families of Char Ichli, Shankardah, Bagerhat, Jayram Ojha, Char Challishasal of Gangachara Lahmitari Union, Chilakhal of Kolkonda Union, Matukpur and Binbina Char have been flooded. The Humayun embankment at Binbina Char in Kolkonda Union has eroded about 100 feet forcing intrusion of flood water in the locality. As a result, 2,000 people have been marooned.

Some parts of Chalapak, Joydev and Rajballav of Gajghanta Union have been flooded. As a result, 500 families of the union have been flooded. Char Morneya of Morneya Union, 1000 families of Nilarpar area, Char Bagdohra of Nohali Union, Char Nohali, about 2000 families of Bairati, Haguria Hashim of Chaola Union of Pirgachha Upazila, about 500 families of 5 villages including Shivdev are under water blockade.

Water has inundated some areas of Rushmara Char, Panjarbhanga, Chargadai, Gopidanga, Nijpara and Taluk Shahbazpur of Balapara Union of Kaunia Upazila. As a result, about 2,000 families of Balapara Union have been flooded.

Besides, 2,000 families of Chargonai, Haricharan Sharma, Bishwanath Char, Azamkhan Char, Tapur Char and Hibat Khat Char of Tepamadhupur Union have been inundated due to flash floods. Crops were destroyed in the floods, and houses were submerged. Many have taken refuge with cattle on the banks of the river Teesta. Food and clean water have been in crisis as houses have been submerged in the floods.

Due to the deteriorating flood situation, people affected by erosion and water logging are leaving their homes and taking shelter in flood control dams and high places. However, there is a crisis of dry food and clean water among these people.

Abdullah Al Hadi, chairman of the Gangachara Lahmitari Union, said the water level in the Teesta had risen since Friday night. As a result, people in almost all areas on the left bank of the river have become water logged. There is a food crisis among these people. He called upon the government and the rich to provide necessary assistance including dry food to the affected people.