10,000 stranded as Teesta breaches flood villages in Rangpur

Around 10,000 people have been stranded after breaches in two embankments along the Teesta River flooded several villages in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur.

The breaches occurred in volunteer-built embankments in Ward No. 8 of Nohali Union after a sudden rise in the Teesta's water level, allowing floodwaters to inundate nearby villages.

A visit to the area found that about 150 metres of the embankments had already been washed away by the river.

Large areas of cropland have gone under water, while floodwaters have submerged several villages, disrupting normal life.

The erosion has also put more than 100 homesteads, educational institutions, mosques, a temple, roads and other infrastructure at risk.

Residents of Char Baghdhogra, Char Kachari, Chilakhal, Binbinia and Mukutpara said many families, particularly children, elderly people and livestock, were facing severe hardship, with numerous residents taking shelter at relatives' homes.

Local resident Monayem Hossain said hundreds of people lose their homes to river erosion every year, yet no permanent solution has been implemented.

"The embankment has already lost about 150 metres to the river. If the main embankment is breached, thousands of people will lose their homes. A few thousand geo bags will not be enough. A permanent embankment project is urgently needed," he said.

Another resident, Abdul Karim, said several houses had already been swallowed by the river.

"My house could be the next. If I lose my homestead, I will have nowhere to go. If no one gives me a place to relocate, I will have to move to Dhaka with my family and earn a living by pulling a rickshaw," he said.

Mominul Islam, another affected resident, said repeated erosion had already destroyed homes, farmland, a mosque, a madrasa and schools.

"We do not want relief. We want a permanent embankment to protect us," he said.

Executive Engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board (WDB) Robiul Islam said 4,500 geo bags had already been allocated to protect the embankment and dumping work was under way.

"More geo bags will be supplied if necessary. We are treating the matter with the utmost importance," he said.

Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mosammat Jesmin Akter said the affected area had been inspected and the Water Development Board had been asked to take immediate measures to prevent further erosion.