SB-Sujon, Lalmonirhat :
Despite the receding water in Teesta, the suffering of the people of Banbhasi has not decreased. Thousands of families in 5 upazilas of Lalmonirhat are waterlogged. In addition to their endless suffering, they are also in trouble with their livestock. As the water in their homes rises, people are cooking by lighting stoves on flood control embankments. Teaching activities in some schools have also been closed. In addition, after the water recedes, river erosion has occurred. This has spread new panic in the riverbank areas.
Last Tuesday midnight, the water of the Teesta river in Lalmonirhat started flowing 7 centimeters above the danger level. This flooded the low-lying areas along the riverbank. About 10,000 people are waterlogged. However, the water started receding from yesterday, Wednesday morning. At 3 pm, the water level at the Teesta Barrage point, the country’s largest irrigation project located in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat, decreased to 15 centimeters below the danger level. The water level at the same point has remained unchanged since 6 pm. However, the people of Teesta are afraid that the water level will rise at night.
Meanwhile, since last Tuesday night, when the water level of the Teesta river suddenly increased and flowed 7 centimeters above the danger level, the Water Development Board opened 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage. This has caused flooding in the low-lying areas along the banks of the Teesta. About 10,000 people in 15 villages along the riverbanks of Saniajan, Sindurna, Patikapara, and Gaddimari in Hatibandha upazila, Votmari in Kaliganj upazila, Mahishkhocha in Aditmari upazila, and Rajpur, Khuniagach, and Gokunda unions in Sadar upazila have been stranded due to the flash floods. Although the water level has decreased somewhat later, about 7,000 families are still stranded.
People in those areas are suffering as water rises in their homes. Many are in trouble with their livestock. Roads have also been damaged by the water. As water rises in their homes, some are cooking on the streets by lighting stoves, while others are building a hut along the road with their cows and goats and sleeping in the same room.
Dalia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury said that the water level of the Teesta River has increased due to the upstream flow and crossed the danger mark. However, the water has started receding since this morning.
Water has risen in the fields of 12 government primary schools in the district. Water has also entered the classrooms of some schools. Due to this, no students have been able to come to the schools. Teaching activities have been stopped in 6 schools in the district headquarters and 6 schools in Aditmari upazila. Teachers have advised students not to come to school. District Primary Education Officer Liton Das said that schools where water has risen are risky for young children and students. Therefore, teaching has been closed until the flood waters recede.
Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner HM Rakib Haider said that the district administration is ready to provide all kinds of assistance to the flood victims. Flood shelters have been prepared. A list of flood victims is being compiled. Government assistance will be provided to the flood victims very soon.
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