Torrential rains submerge 26 villages in Jashore; 8,500 people stranded

Incessant rains for the last couple of days have flooded homesteads, cropland and fish enclosures, rendering around 8,500 people of 26 villages in Abhaynagar upazila marooned.

School grounds and house courtyards are flooded, with water levels reaching waist and even chest height in some areas.

According to the office of Abhaynagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, low-lying areas in Prembagh, Sundali, Chalisia, Payra unions, and Nawapara municipality were heavily affected due to Bhavadaha's waterlogging and recent rains.

Fourteen shelters were opened where 14 men, 18 women, and 55 children have taken refuge, it said.

The worst-affected areas include Ziadanga, Magura, Bongram, Baliadanga in Prembagh Union, Laxmipur, Danga Moshiahati, and Sundali in Sundali Union, Dumurtala, Andha, Chalisia in Chalisia Union, Dighalia and Barandi in Payra Union, and Buikara, Amdanga, and Gazipur in Nawapara municipality.

During a visit to the affected unions, the correspondent found people stranded, with schools closed and roads underwater. "In the waterlogged area of Kota West Para, water has entered the homes of residents like Jafar Sheikh and Shefali Begum. They are in a desperate state, unable to cook, eat, or even go to the toilet. At night, they live in fear of snakes and insects as water floods beneath their beds," said a local.

The residents claim they have not received any government aid so far, and children are struggling to attend school.

Md Robiul Alam, president of the Abhaynagar Upazila Fish Enclosure Owners' Association, said, "Fish enclosure owners are ruined. Without government help, rehabilitation will be very difficult."

Senior Fisheries Officer Aminul Haque confirmed that 332 fish enclosures across 114.50 hectares, as well as 180 ponds and lakes covering 24.15 hectares, have been damaged. "The total estimated loss is over 5.23 crore. We have requested higher authorities for support," he added.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Lovely Khatun reported that 1,581 hectares of transplanted Aman rice fields and 136 hectares of vegetable crops on 1,738 hectares, have been destroyed.

Abhaynagar UNO Joydeb Chakraborty said the deputy commissioner of Jessore visited the waterlogged areas on Monday and has issued instructions to the Water Development Board officials.

Palash Kumar Banerjee, executive engineer of the Jessore Water Development Board, said four water pumps are currently running at the Bhavadaha sluice gate to mitigate the waterlogging.

"A project worth Tk 47.65 crore is underway, and once implemented, it will permanently resolve the waterlogging problem in this region."