35,000 people marooned as flash flood hits Kurigram

Flood in Kurigram

Kurigram, June 13 --Some 35,000 people in Roumari upazila of Kurigam district have been marooned due to flash flood caused by recent heavy showers and onrush of water from hills.

Fifteen villages in Datbhanga union of the upazila were flooded afresh on Monday as rivers flowing the areas continue to swell.

The newly affected areas are – Char Gayata Para, Tekani village, Charkauwarchar, Charboyalmari, Okrakanda, Shaulmari, Mollarchar, Karaikandi, Mirzapur, Goulgram, New Chuliarchar, Bokbanda, Bikribil, Algarchar and Kashiabari.

As many as 27 educational institutions in this area have been shut due to the worsening flood condition.

The lack of food and drinking water is adding to the misery of the people of flood-hit areas.

LGED engineer Jubayer Hossain said 22 kilometers of roads in Shaulmari, Roumari and Jadurchar Unions have been submerged in the recent flood.

People are using boats to move from one place to another amid knee-to-waist deep water.

Abdul Qayum Chowdhury, agriculture officer of the upazila, said 283 hectares of cropland were submerged in the upazila as Jinjiram, Dharni and Kaljani rivers keep swelling.

Roumari Upazila Project Implementation Officer Azizur Rahman said the low-lying areas of the upazila have been inundated due to heavy rains.

The authority has so far allocated Tk 3 lakh for providing relief materials to the flood victims, he added.

“A report has been submitted to the higher authorities and more relief will be provided again if allocation is given,” he added. - UNB