Muhuri river flowing above the danger level, 20 villages flooded
The water of Muhuri river in Feni is flowing 255 cm above the danger level. Two consecutive days of heavy rain and torrential downpours from upstream of India led to the breach of the Muhuri-Kahua-Silonia river flood control dam. As a result, 20 villages in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas of Feni have been flooded.
Earlier, on July 1, 46 villages of these two upazilas were flooded due to the breach of four flood control dams.
The breaching began on Friday (02 August) at noon. Due to this, the dam of Muhuri river broke in the Shaldhar area of Parashuram and water entered the locality. In this, 10 villages including Chithlia, Bux Mahmud, Mirzanagar and municipal areas of the upazila were flooded. Also, 10 villages have been flooded in Fulgazi upazila, the upazila administration said.
According to the office of the Parashuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the water of Muhuri river is flowing above 255 cm of water level and there is a possibility of more water increase in the next three hours as the water level of Muhuri near the market of Parashuram municipality has increased, the water is flowing towards the market through 2 places on Kotli road and 1 place near Parashuram thana. Around 1 thousand families are marooned in Sarupathar, Baurkhuma, Dublachar, Kalapara, Anantapur, Uttar Guthuma, Belbaria villages of the municipality.
According to the same source, a breach occurred at a place in the dam of Silonia river in West Mirzanagar of Mirzanagar union in the upazila. About 300 families in North Manipur, South Manipur, Kali Krishnanagar, Gadanagar, Kautli and Daspara villages are under water. In addition, more than 700 families are marooned in water in Shaildhar village of Chitalia Union after the dam of Muhuri river broke. About 800 families are trapped in water in Bux Mahmud Union's river embankment failure.
In the afternoon of the same day, a dam broke at one place of Muhuri river in Fulgazi upazila and 3 villages in Fulgazi Sadar Union, 5 in Amjad Hat Union and 2 in Munshirhat Union were flooded. Various roads, houses, crop fields and fish enclosures were flooded in the area. Fulgazi market is flooded. According to the Upazila administration, 1,000 people in Fulgazi upazila and 2,400 people in Parashuram upazila are trapped in water. The upazila administration said that this number is constantly increasing.
Thousands of people in these two upazilas were affected by the flood in July last year. The water development board has only nominally repaired the damaged places after the flood, which caused the erosion again after 1 month. Locals said that water is entering the lower area after breaking the embankment at Saldhar in Parashuram. Last July, the site broke again before repairs were completed on the previous breach site.
Jasim Uddin, chairman of Chithlia Union Parishad, said that due to the negligence of the Water Development Board, the flood control dam broke and the locality was repeatedly flooded. Due to the delay in repairing the embankment which collapsed a month ago, another collapse occurred at the same place. No WDB officials have been seen in the erosion area since morning. Malipathar, Pagliarulo, Dakshin Shaldhar villages of my union were submerged in water after the dam broke in Shaildhar around 11 am today.
Mirzanagar Union Chairman Nuruzzaman Bhuttu said that around 4:30 pm in West Mirzanagar area of the Union, five villages were flooded after the dam of Silonia river broke. About 1,000 families are stuck in water. Upazila Nirbahi Officer has already given dry food to 100 families. We are also trying to cooperate personally.
Rashed Shahriar, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, said that around 8:00 pm, the water level of the Muhuri river has reached 255 cm above the danger level. Due to continuous rain, the river water is rising and water is flowing over the dam at various places. Erosion prevention work is ongoing in places where there is risk of erosion. If the rains increase, more breaks may occur at several places.
Parashuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afroza Habib Shapla said that preparations have been made according to the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner to deal with natural disasters. 550 packets of dry food have been distributed by the Upazila Administration. She said that around 10 families stuck due to flood in Uttar Bazar area of Parashuram municipality were rescued with the help of fire service and shifted to a safe place.
Met Office Feni Senior Observer Saleh Ahmed said that 134 mm of rain was recorded in Feni from Thursday morning to Friday morning at 6 am. Besides, 44 mm was recorded from 6 am to 9 am, 71 mm from 9 am to 12 pm and 44 mm from 12 pm to 3 am. There is a possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall in the next two days.