Amphan inundates low-lying areas of Patuakhali

Eight upazilas of Patuakhali district have been inundated as embankments of the upazilas were breached by the tidal surge caused by cyclone Amphan last night.

Homes and businesses along College Road, Sobujbag, Puranbazar, Kathpatti, Launch Road and Sanirvar Road of the Zila Sadar were also flooded as waters breached safety embankments of the city.

Patuakhali Water Development Board Executive Engineer Muhammad Hasanuzzaman said that 8 kilometers of embankments in the district were damaged. Dams in the Bhajna area of Chota Bigha Union of Sadar Upazila and the Burirkanda area of Rangopaldi Union of Dashmina Upazila have been severely damaged. 

Work has already started on the repair of damaged embankments, said the executive engineer. 

Trees and electricity poles were uprooted in many areas, and the rural power supply infrastructure was also damaged due to the cyclonic storm.     

Tidal waters also flooded low-lying areas of Charipara in Lalua Union and Charchapali, Nizampur, Ramnabad Channel under Dulasar Union. 

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Md Motiul Islam Chowdhury said, "All the Upazila Nirbahi Officers have been asked to immediately inform the deputy commissioner's office about the extent of damage after assessing it."

Hopefully the actual details of the damage will be known in a short time, the deputy commissioner added.