Strong Cyclone Remal is approaching the land of Bangladesh. Due to its impact, a dam broke and flooded about 20 villages at Rangabali Upazila, an isolated island of coastal district Patuakhali.
It was seen that water has entered the villages due to the breach of Gramraksha Dam in Dakshin Charmontaz Nayarchar area under Rangabali Upazila. About 10 villages including Boubazar, Nayarchar, Dakshin Chermontaz, Uttar Chermontaz, Mollagram and Char Anda have been flooded. Besides, some other villages including Gorubhanga, Charlata and Chinabunia have been flooded due to water entering from several places of Gramraksha Dam under Chaulabunia Union.
According to Patuakhali Water Development Board, 14 km out of 1300 km embankment in the district is in a vulnerable condition. Out of this, one and a half kilometer dam has been declared more dangerous. About 16,000 geo bags are ready for erosion repair.
Rangabali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mizanur Rahman said, ''The embankment was already broken in Chaulabuniya. Today, tidal water has damaged dams in many places in Chermantaj. Because of this, most of the areas of wards 7, 8 and 9 of the union have been flooded. We are making arrangements to take the stranded people to the shelter quickly.''
Cyclone Remal is likely to cross the Bangladesh coast by evening, the Meteorological Department said. At present, Payra seaport area is under danger signal no-10.
