Flooding has occurred again after a few days due to the rise of water in the Teesta due to torrential downpours and onrush of waters from upper riparian. About 5 thousand families in 3 upazilas of Rangpur have become marooned. Many people were seen leaving their homes and taking shelter on highland along with their cattle. Currently, there is a shortage of clean food and water among the families. Along with that, severe river erosion has occurred.
On Thursday (July 4), Talpatti, Alfaz Tari, Narsingh, Harin Chara Kolkond Union's Talpatti, Char Matukpur, Char Chilakhal, Madhya Chilakhal, Lakshmitri Union's Char Ichli, Paschim Ichli, Challissal and Nohali Union's Bagdahra, Minar Bazar area of the upazila revealed. The families whose houses were destroyed by the displacement and floods are living a miserable life. Cattle and birds have taken shelter on roadsides, educational institutions, mosques and various open spaces. Many families are already moving their homes due to the threat of erosion.
After a physical visit, it can be seen that the tube well, cooking stove, sewage system have been submerged in the flood water. There is a shortage of clean water and food. Water-logged families are living miserable lives. Apart from this, groundnuts and seeds of Aman paddy and various vegetables were destroyed by the water.
Rural roads have been submerged due to inundation of pastures. Extensive erosion has occurred in the Alfachatari area of Marnea Union. In the last four days, the houses of at least half a hundred families have been destroyed in the area due to river erosion. Extreme suffering has occurred to the marooned families. Many people are moving their houses and furniture due to the fear of erosion.
Locals said, this time the houses of hundreds of families have been destroyed in Gangachara Teesta. The Teesta river has swelled due to the heavy rains of a few days and the hill slopes coming down from Sikkim, India. About 100 families of four unions of Gangachara in Rangpur have lost their houses in the Teesta. More than 250 families have evacuated their houses in fear of landslides. About 5 thousand families of Gangachara upazila have become marooned.
Afsar Ali (48), a resident of Marnea Union, said, I have been stuck in water for 10 days. No one neither my chairman nor government agency people came to me, he added.
Khaleda Begum of Kolkond Union said that my house was about 200 meters away from the river. On Wednesday night, three houses, including the kitchen, were instantly devoured by the Teesta.
Meanwhile, Mornea UP Chairman Zillur Rahman said that in the last few days, the houses of half a hundred families in his union have disappeared under the river. More than 1000 families are stuck in water.
Gangachra Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahid Tamanna said, "We have a list of 20 families of Marnea Union which were destroyed by the Teesta. We are listing with more inquiries. However, about two hundred and fifty families of Kolkond, Nohali, Marnea, Lakshmitri Union have shifted their houses due to the threat of erosion.
Nazrul Islam Haqqani, president of the Save Teesta, Nadi Bachao Sangram Parishad said that the wealth of Tk. one lakh crore have gone into Teesta every year due to untimely floods and erosion. For a permanent solution to this problem there is no alternative but to implement river dredging, conservation and Teesta Master Plan.
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center of the Water Development Board (WDB) said that heavy rainfall is expected in the next 24 hours in the northern part of the country and adjacent upstream. During this time, the water of Teesta, Dharla and Dudh Kumar rivers will increase especially during plain time and may cross the flood level at some points in the short term.
Mahbub Rahman, the Chief Engineer of the Northern Region of the Water Development Board, said that the low-lying areas along the river banks were flooded due to heavy rains and upstream flows. Erosion has occurred in some places in the Gangachara as the water in the Teesta rises and falls. Measures will be taken to prevent rapid erosion.