Flash flood leaves thousands stranded in Rajshahi  

Sabiha and her seven family members had been living at Modhya Char area of Paba Upazila for four years. However, as floods ripped through their houses and farmlands recently, they had to shift to Rajshahi city.

At over 60 years old, Sabiha does not know when she will return to her residence, or whether there will be anything left for her to start over again.               

"We have no land, no shelter and no work, as it has been raining," wept the woman adding they had been struggling to get even three meals a day.          

Another elderly man, Haider Ali and his 10 family members were compelled to leave the house as the flash flood worsened.     

"I was born and raised at Char Khidirpur. I moved to Modhya Char in 2015 as the river erosion and flood ate up my farmlands and house. This year, I lost my new address too," said Haider. 

Flash floods during the end of September, every year, strands thousands in Paba, Bagha and Godagari upazilas. 

According to the locals, some 3,600 families have been stranded by the flood at 15 char areas for the last seven days.        

Moreover, people on the bank of Padma and at Paba and Godagari Upazila have lost their homes as the river erosion is taking a dangerous turn. A total of 11 primary and secondary schools in Bagha announced vacations for an indefinite period.

Uncertainty looms over two schools, local bazar and mosque as Padma erosion erupts. 

The water level of Padma keeps swelling as rainwater and flood from India's Bihar inflate the stream. Moreover, the water level is rising 6 to 8 centimetre per day riding on the incessant rain in Rajshahi.     

On Monday evening, Padma was flowing just 49 centimetres below the danger level at Rajshahi. 

Rajshahi Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sayed Sahidul Alam said the water level would cross the danger level at Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj point by Tuesday if the rising trend continues.   

He said the situation will not improve until the flood in Bihar improves.     

Rajshahi District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Enamul Haque said a total of 365 families have become homeless in Paba due to the flood. Meanwhile, some 55 families in Godagari and 1,586 families in Bagha have also been stranded due to the flood. 

Enamul Haque says his office distributed 904 packets of dry food and 43 metric tonnes of rice among the flood affected people. He assured of all-out preparation to minimize the loss.            

Bagha upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahin Reza said: "We are communicating with the people in the areas affected by river erosion. So far, 1,500 people have been reported stranded, while 85 families have lost their belongings to the river. The families have been provided with relief."      

Md Shamsul Haque, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Rahshahi, said crops on 102 hectares of land were damaged by the inundation. 

"Char area farmers, especially lentil growers, are the worst victims."