KHULNA, Oct 21: The Atai River erosion devoured about 450 metres of Sener Bazaar-Kalia road at Terokhada Upazila in the last 24 hours, much to the worries of several thousand
people.
If the authorities don't take steps in this connection immediately, the entire 30-kilometre long Senerbazar-Kalia-Bardia road may go into the river anytime, said Sarfuddin Bacchu, chairman of Terokhada Upazila Parishad.
The river eroded at least 20 homesteads and roads on the bank of the river at Parhaji Village under Modhupur Union in the upazila. The remaining part of the road will be eroded anytime if the authorities do not take emergency initiative.
Failure to take immediate steps to protect the road will render about 2,000 families of the union homeless, he added.
Local people alleged that a normal collapse happened five days back. The authorities did not take steps in this connection despite informing them.
Thousands of people in several villages of the upazila are passing their days amid fear as the sluice gate of Parhazi Village faces a severe threat as it may collapse anytime following erosion.
Villagers demanded building a guide wall immediately adjacent to the riverside road to protect it from erosion otherwise they feared that entire road will be devoured soon.
Chairman of Modhupur Union Sheikh Mohsin Hossain told The Daily Observer that already about half-kilometre road devoured by River Atai erosion.
People suffer seriously and plying of different vehicles has been stopped, he said.
"Engineers of Water Development Board (WDB) have already visited the spot. We have informed the matter to the local lawmaker," he added.
Contacted, lawmaker of Khulna-2 constituency Salam Murshedi said, "I have already informed the local WDB to check the erosion to save the Senerbazar-Kalia road."
