The flood situation has worsened in Kurigram due to the rush of water. As a result of the continuous rise in water, the Brahmaputra river is flowing over the danger level at three points. About 82 thousand people of about 15 thousand families of 41 unions of 7 upazilas of the district have been flooded by its basin. As the water of Dharla river has crossed the flood level, the residents of the low-lying areas have also been affected by the flood. In this situation, the local administration has increased the government relief program.
However, people do not tend to go to flood shelters even if houses are submerged in floods. The families are unwilling to leave their homes and go to shelters for fear of losing their last possessions and being washed away. They are trying to survive by clinging to the floating tin shed.
Disaster Management and Relief wing of the district said that till now about 320 square kilometers area of Kurigram has been flooded. 404 shelters are operational for flood victims. But according to official estimates, the Disaster Management and Relief department of Kurigram district said that some families were staying in only one shelter till Thursday (July 4) evening. 12 families and some cattle have taken shelter in the shelter named Prothom Alo Char Alo Pathshala of Ghogadah Union of Kurigram Sadar Upazila. The sheltered families lost their land in the river and came there. On the other hand, flood-affected families tend not to go to shelters.
Barta24 trying to find an explanation for not wanting to go to the shelters in some flood-affected pastures of the Brahmaputra river in Kurigram. Then It can be seen that those whose houses were completely submerged have taken shelter in the house of a relative on a nearby higher ground. And the residents of Char area are having a hard time spending their days there with some parts of their houses floating including tin sheds. Some have taken shelter in tin sheds, some are spending day and night in boats.
Noor Jamal Miah is a resident of Batuatuli Musar Char of Ulipur Upazila. Calling two workers, he is tying the furniture and various items higher up in the neck-deep water inside the house. Cattle piled up in knee-deep water on a nearby high land. He spends the whole day sitting on a boat tied up in the yard.
When asked about going to the shelter, he said that it is not possible to go there with all the belongings of the house. When the water rises, things have to be lifted higher. If not at home, everything will be washed away. Who knows if there will be a place for the cows. We have to stay at home to protect the goods.
The same explanation was given in the voice of Fatema Begum, a resident of the same Char. After the water rose up to the chest in 3 rooms of the house, he took shelter in a high hill of the house with 5 family members including 6 cows. Cooking is done there. He was saying, the difficulty of eating, the difficulty of going to the toilet, the difficulty of living. Even then, the house is in front of the eyes, it is peaceful. Leaving them and going to the shelter will always be stressful. There is also thought about how the accommodation is.
In some shelters of Kurigram, it is known that two families have taken shelter there and the number of cattle is more than people. Ulipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ataur Rahman said that some families have taken shelter in a shelter in Ulipur's Char Bagua. A couple of families have been raised along with the cattle in some of the shelters around it.
Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abdul Hai Sarkar said, we have prepared a total of 404 shelters considering possible risks. People are being repeatedly asked to come to the affected people. Usually people don't want to come unless they feel extreme risk. But we are always ready.
Meanwhile, the district administration has increased government relief activities. So far, a total of 105 metric tons of rice in different upazilas, 4000 packets of dry food and Tk. 11 lakh 50 thousand in cash have been distributed among the flood victims.
On Thursday (July 4) at 6 pm at Chilmari and Nunkhawa points, the Brahmaputra river flowed 71 cm and 68 cm above the danger level, respectively. The flood warning and forecasting center said that the Brahmaputra water may continue to rise for the next 3 days.