Flood improves in Kurigram
Many families will have to stay at shelter centres for a few more days
The water levels in all the rivers have started decreasing in Kurigram district. Although the waters of Dudhkumar and Teesta rivers have gone below the danger level, that of Brahmaputra and Dharla are still flowing slightly above it.
Even though the water receded, many families are yet to return home. They will have to stay in shelter centres or on dams for a few more days.
Besides, many of the waterlogged families in the Dharla River basin are trying to return their homes. But there are doubts that if they would be able to cope with the damages caused by the flood.
On the other part, the waters of Jamuna and Bangali rivers in Bogura will flow above the danger mark for a couple of more days, according to the Water Development Board.
According to the Kurigram Water Development Board, at 12 noon on Wednesday, the water level of Dudhkumar at Nunkhawa Point in Kurigram sadar upazila dropped to 2cm below the danger mark.
Besides, at Dharla Bridge Point of sadar upazila, the water level of Dharla is 8cm above the danger mark. The water level of Brahmaputra at Chilmari Ghat point in Chilmari upazila is 28cm above the danger level.
Mohubar Rahman of Panchgachhi union in Kurigram sadar upazila said he had taken shelter on the street for several days due to the floods in Dharla.
Yasin Ali, 50, of Char Jatrapur village in the Brahmaputra basin of Jatrapur union in Kurigram sadar said, "We 10 families have been living on dams for several days. The water level has been fluctuating for more than a month. I do not think it will be possible to go home before the Eid."
According to the relief and rehabilitation department of the district, 16,100 families in 22 unions of nine upazilas of the district were affected by the first phase of floods, and 11 people drowned.
At the second phase, 63,130 families in 56 unions were inundated and 10 people drowned.
Moreover, the ongoing floods have started eroding 7km of rivers at 32 points in the district. The floods have damaged Aman seedbeds, Aus, jute, chili and other vegetables in about 7,767 hectares of land.
Karipad Roy, district fisheries officer, said the ongoing floods have washed away fishes from more than 2,900 ponds of 2,708 farmers. The floods have also caused infrastructural damage to the ponds as well.
"Altogether, their loss is about Tk7.93 crore," he added.
Water of Bangali-Jamuna to remain above danger mark
By Wednesday noon, the water level of the Jamuna River at Sariakandi point in Bogura dropped by 10cms in one day and flowed over 84cms above the danger mark.
In the same area, the water of the Bangali River increased by about 6cms and flowed about 27cms above the danger level.
According to the Water Development Board sources, the water of Jamuna and Bangali will remain above the danger level for a few more days.
The district relief and rehabilitation office said about 1.5 lakh people have been affected by the floods. Some 70 shelter centres have been opened for the flood victims, but many of them did not go there.