Around 30,000 marooned as Khowai River embankment breaches in Habiganj
Around 30,000 people across four unions in three upazilas of Habiganj have been marooned by floodwaters after incessant rain and upstream hill runoff caused a breach in the Khowai River embankment.
Sources at the local Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the river protection embankment collapsed in the Kaliganj area of Laskarpur union under Habiganj Sadar upazila on Thursday evening.
The gushing water inundated villages in Laskarpur and Poil unions of Sadar upazila, Lamatashi union of Bahubal upazila, and Makrampur union of Baniachang upazila.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Mainul Haque, Habiganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah-Abu-Zaher and other senior officials visited the affected areas and spoke with local representatives about the situation.
Sadar UNO Abdullah-Abu-Zaher said the flood situation was being monitored round the clock and preparations were underway for necessary relief and rescue operations.
District administration sources said a control room had been opened to monitor the situation. They said Tk5 lakh, 100 tonnes of rice and 1,820 packets of dry food were currently available for emergency response.
Many affected families have started moving to safer locations with their livestock, furniture and essential belongings.
In several areas, floodwaters have risen to waist level inside homes, forcing women, children, elderly people and others to leave for safer places. While some have taken shelter at relatives' homes, others have moved to local shelters and educational institutions.
Meanwhile, water from the Khowai River overflowed the Radhapur embankment in Baniachang upazila and rapidly entered the haor areas.
Floodwaters have also entered parts of Habiganj town, including Kamrapur and Danialpur.
Erosion threatens communities, roads
River erosion has worsened near Nalmukh Bazar in Chunarughat upazila. As water levels continue to rise, erosion is spreading rapidly, putting at least 15 families of Rabidas Para under the Harijan community at serious risk.
Several important educational institutions and government establishments are also facing threats from erosion.
The town protection embankment at Machulia Point on the Khowai River has also been identified as vulnerable, with local residents working day and night to protect it. They are using bamboo as a temporary measure to strengthen the embankment.
Local residents alleged that the risk had increased due to negligence by the Water Development Board in taking timely measures.
Meanwhile, rising water levels have affected the Habiganj-Mirpur road at several points. As several sections of the road went underwater, vehicle movement was severely disrupted.
Authorities fear that a further rise in water levels could completely cut road communication between Habiganj Sadar, Mirpur and nearby areas.
Local residents have demanded effective measures to prevent erosion, adequate relief assistance and safe shelter for affected families. With water levels continuing to rise, fears of further flooding have spread across the area.
According to the BWDB, water was flowing 192 centimetres above the danger level at the Chunarughat Balla point of the Khowai River, 113 centimetres above at the Shayestaganj point and 140 centimetres above at the Machulia point on Thursday. Water has also crossed the danger level at some points of the Kushiyara River.