Bangladesh's Satkhira District Faces Flooding During Eid Festivities as River Embankments Fail
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Synopsis
Residents of Satkhira district in Bangladesh had a distressing Eid as flooding from the Khulpetua River disrupted celebrations. At least 10 villages were affected by the embankment collapse, leading to significant damage and community efforts to mitigate the disaster.
Key Takeaways
- Flooding severely impacted at least 10 villages in Satkhira.
- The Khulpetua River embankment collapsed during Eid celebrations.
- Community members attempted to build a temporary embankment.
- Officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board were unavailable.
- Recent embankment failures have left many families stranded.
Dhaka, March 31 (NationPress) Residents of Bangladesh's Satkhira district faced a challenging Eid celebration as flooding impacted at least 10 villages due to the collapse of the Khulpetua River embankment on Monday amidst the festivities.
A local resident reported that areas including Bichat, Ballavpur, Nayakhali, Anulia, and six other neighboring villages were submerged, affecting homes and fish farms. He warned that without prompt intervention, more surrounding areas could experience devastating floods, according to media reports.
“Around 150 feet of the embankment adjacent to Abdur Rahim Sardar’s shrimp farm suddenly gave way into the Khulpetua River. An announcement was made over the mosque’s loudspeaker, urging villagers to rush to the breach site. The community made efforts to build an alternative ring embankment voluntarily,” stated Ziarul Islam, a former Union Parishad member from Bishchot village, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
“However, despite our attempts for over three and a half hours, we were unable to avert the disaster. By 11:30 a.m., the remaining embankment succumbed to the strong tidal surge, allowing water to flood the area,” Islam added.
A local journalist noted that the embankment had shown signs of erosion a month prior. Although repair efforts began, the embankment collapsed before they could be completed, leading to considerable damage, according to local media.
Meanwhile, a Union Parishad leader mentioned that officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board were on holiday and had yet to visit the affected area.
Recent reports indicate that multiple embankments have failed in Bangladesh lately, leaving thousands of families displaced.
Last month, approximately 1200 bighas of Boro paddy fields were flooded after the collapse of the Harina canal embankment in Jashore district, where locals reported that floodwaters inundated fish enclosures, resulting in losses of fish valued at 1 crore Bangladeshi taka.
Bangladesh continues to face numerous challenges since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took power following the abrupt fall of the Sheikh Hasina government amid widespread protests.
