-Ppl blame municipality’s drainage system
-178 mm rainfall recorded in last two days
In Satkhira, the lower areas of the district have been submerged by normal rains. The seeds of newly planted Aman and Aush paddy have sunk in it. Hundreds of families have been trapped in water, thousands of bigha of fish enclosures and crops have been washed away.
Met office sources of Satkhira said that 178 mm rainfall has been recorded in the last two days till 10 am on Friday.
Due to lack of drainage system in the low lying areas of Satkhira Municipality, there is a risk of flooding due to heavy rains. Locals are stuck with water. Water has entered people's houses in several areas. Meanwhile, the water from these bills along the Betna river is not going to the river. This water is coming towards the municipality. All the ponds in the countryside have gone under water due to heavy rains.
Alinur Khan Babul of Itagacha area of Satkhira city said that people have been suffering from waterlogging for years due to lack of proper drainage system in the municipality. Vast areas including Itagacha, Kamannagar, Rasulpur, Mehdibagh, Madhumollardangi, Bakchara, Sardarpara, Palashpole, Old Satkhira, Rajarbagan, Baddipur Colony, Ghutirdangi and Katia Mathpara of the municipality have been inundated by the normal rainfall of the last two days.
He also said that the flooding was caused by unplanned fish enclosures by a few people in the municipality.
Dr Dinesh, a resident of Dhulihar area of Satkhira Sadar Upazila, said that in Dhulihar, Fingri, Brahmarajpur, Labsa, Balli, Jhowdanga Union Bills, newly planted seedlings have been submerged in water. As there is no way to remove the water, the rainwater has started rising into the houses. Even the Pransayer canal running through Satkhira town is unable to draw water. The houses in the flooded areas have collapsed. As a result of heavy rain, at least 10 beels including Gadaibil, Chaglar bil, Shalya bil, Binerpotar bil, Rajnagar bil, Machkhola bil are flooded. The fish cages of these bills have been washed away.
Meanwhile, seven upazilas of the district, including sub-upazilas Shyamnagar, Kaliganj and Asashuni, have been flooded by rainwater. Water is also flowing over the main road there. The fish enclosures in these areas have sunk.
Deputy Director of Satkhira District Agriculture Extension Directorate Md Saiful Islam said that the lower areas of the district have been flooded due to normal rainfall. The seeds of newly planted Aman and Aush paddy have sunk in it. The upazila agriculture officers have been asked to survey and assess the damage and send the list.
Zulfikar Ali Ripon, officer-in-charge of Satkhira Meteorological Office, said that 178 mm of rain has been recorded in Satkhira in the last two days under the influence of monsoon. He said that there is more possibility of such rainfall in the future.
ZH
