10,000 stranded as Embankment breach floods in Moulvibazar

Heavy rainfall and flashfloods from upstream breached an embankment on the Dhalai River of Kamalganj upazila. Several villages were flooded, leaving at least 10,000 people stranded.

Flood affected villages are in Islampur, Madhabpur and Adampur unions. Aus paddy fields and other harvest were submerged.

The embankment collapsed at Mokhabil in Islampur Union on Wednesday night due to heavy rain and hill runoff. Floodwater spread quickly into the nearby villages.

Mokhabil, Goler Haor, Bhandarigaon, Ganganagar, Konagaon, Berigaon, Sripur, Patarigaon, Kalaray Bil, Adhkani, Chhangaon, Bandergaon, Teitoigaon, Bhanubil and Ghoramara are of the worst-hit villages. Several roads and schools also went under water.

Local sources said, the embankment of Mokhabil section had been vulnerable for a long time. Timely measures to secure the embankment was interrupted. Therefore, floodwater entered many residential houses and damaged crops.

The embankment suddenly gave away around 10:00 pm on Wednesday. Nearly 100 meters of the embankment collapsed, water surged into the villages across several unions.

Water levels in the district’s rivers continued to rise because of the persistent rain and upstream flows. Dhalai and Manu rivers were recorded flowing over the danger level, while Kushiyara and Juri rivers were rising rapidly.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Executive Engineer Khaled Bin Walid confirmed the news and said, Dhalai River embankment was breached at the Mokhabil section. Repair work could not be competed there due to unavailable circumstances.

SA