Flash flood leaves 10,000 marooned in Gaibandha

Onrush of water from the upstream has flooded hundreds of houses in low-lying areas of Jamuna and Ghagot river basins in the district in the last two days, leaving over 10,000 people marooned.
Floodwater also inundated vast tracts of cropland in 16 unions of three upazilas.
According to the local water development board office water levels of Jamuna and Ghagot rivers swelled alarmingly and were flowing 44 and 43cm of above danger marks.
The worst affected areas are Hatbari, Gobindi, Sathalia, Hasilkani, Patilbari, Nalsia, Gobindapur, Haldia in Saghata upazila, Galna, Nilkuthi, Bhajondanga, Baje Phulchhari, Pipulia, Gabgachhi, Kholabari, Ziadanga, Khatiyamari, Kalasoner Char, Kaiteer Haat, Harichandi, Kabilpur, Rasoolpur in Phulchhari upazila and Kamarjani, Batikamari, Pardiyera and Kharjani in Gaibandha Sadar upazila.
In Phulchhari upazila, crops including Aman paddy, pulse and seedbeds on vast areas went under water. Most dwelling houses in charland were submerged by knee-deep water.
Due to sudden increase of water levels, the flood control dykes are under serious threat in Phulchhari and Saghata upazilas. Besides, Gaibandha town protection dyke along River Ghagot also face similar threat at three vulnerable points.
Meanwhile, flood situation in Chapainawabganj district has marked a slight improvement while the low-lying areas of the district still remain under flood water, reports our correspondent.
Sources at the local Water Development Board (WDB) on Monday said the water levels of Padma and Mahananda rivers marked fall although they were still flowing above danger levels.
Heavy rain followed by onrush of water from the upstream for the last two weeks flooded 15 unions of Sadar and Shibganj upazilas and some low-lying areas of Chapainawabganj municipality, learning over one lakh villagers marooned.
The affected unions are Alatuli, Narayanpur, Anupnagar, Shahjahanpur, Debinagar, Charbagdanga, Islampur and Sundarpur and partially of Moharajpur and Baroghoria of sadar upazila and Panka, Ujirpur, Durlovpur, Monakasha, Ghorapakhia, Chhatrajitpur and partially of Shabajpur union in Shibganj upazila.
A large number of flood hit people have already taken shelter on embankment and high lands. They face acute crisis of food, fuel and drinking water.
Many educational institutions suspended their academic activities as flood water entered the classrooms.
The floodwaters damaged Aus paddy on about 6.83 thousand hectares and vegetables on 530 hectares in the upazilas, said officials of the District Agriculture Extension office.