Floods damage 211km of roads in Sunamganj, thousands marooned
Kurigram Water Development Board official said there is a possibility of rains again in the middle of July, which could lead to fresh floods in Kurigram.
About 211 kilometres of roads have been damaged by floods caused by heavy rain and onrush of water from upstream in Sunamganj.
The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of Sunamganj said the damage to district-wide roads caused by the floods is estimated at Tk120 crore.
The water in all the rivers in the northern region is flowing over the danger level, marooning thousands of people in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Bogura districts.
The flood situation in Netrokona has improved as the waters of most rivers of the district are receding slowly.
In Sunamganj
The severe floods due to heavy rain and onrush of water from upstream from June 25-29 have caused extensive damage to various infrastructures in Sunamganj. The roads have been badly damaged by the flood.
Meanwhile, people have been suffering as road communication with the district town in three upazilas has been halted due to flood-damaged roads.
Sunamganj LGED and RHD have written to higher authorities seeking Tk120 crore for patch-up work of flood-damaged roads.
Mahbubur Rahman, executive engineer of Sunamganj LGED, said 200 kilometres of roads were washed away by the floods, causing a loss of about Tk100 crore.
"Moreover, if the flood waters recede, the road may be further damaged. We want an allocation for urgent repairs."
Kazi Nazrul Islam, sub-divisional engineer of Sunamganj RHD, said about 11 km of roads have been submerged, causing severe damage.
The severely damaged roads are Bishwambharpur-Kachirgati, Niamatpur-Tahirpur, Jamalganj-Sunamganj, Doarabazar-Sunamganj, Chhatak-Gobindganj.
"We have sent a report of the initial damage to roads worth Tk20.75 crore to higher authorities and sought funds to repair them."
Thousands marooned in the north
The water in all the rivers in the northern region is flowing over the danger level, marooning thousands of people in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Bogura districts.
Bogura Water Development Board (WDB) said the Jamuna was flowing 21cm above danger level at Sariakandi point at 6 am. Along with other rivers, the water level of the Bangali river has risen by 75.3 cm.
Apart from people in Sonatala and Dhunat upazilas, about 50,000 people are stranded in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura as well.
Most families in the three upazilas, who are marooned by the flood, are facing a shortage of dry food, cash and pure drinking water.
Flood affected people in remote char areas are facing a shortage of baby food, and aged family members are facing severe difficulty.
The locals said even when they get some government assistance, it is not enough.
Kurigram WDB Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said even though the water upstream of the Brahmaputra and downstream of the Jamuna has started to recede a bit, there is a possibility of rain again in the middle of July, which could lead to fresh floods in Kurigram.
In Netrokona
The flood waters in Netrokona Sadar and Kalmakanda upazilas are slowly receding, but about 70 villages are still submerged.
Netrokona WDB Executive Engineer Md Akhtaruzzaman said at Kalmakanda point, the Someshwari River is flowing 30 cm below danger level.
The Kangsha was flowing 177 cm below the danger level at Zaria point, and the Dhanu river was flowing 84 cm below the danger level at Khaliajuri point.