Seven villages in Feni flooded as embankment collapses

Seven villages in Fulgazi upazila of Feni district have been submerged as the flood control embankment along the Muhuri River collapsed due to the onrush of water, destroying crops and dwellings.

The river was flowing 140cm above its danger level on Tuesday, cutting off road communications with Parshuram areas.

Sources at the upazila administration and Water Development Board (WDB) said the embankment at Jaipur point in Fulgazi Sadar Union got damaged due to the deluge of water from across the border.

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They said the flood sent Fulgazi Sadar Union, West Ghaniamora, East Ghaniamora, and Kismat Ghaniamoa, Jaipur, North Daulatpur, South Dinajpur, and Bairagpur areas underwater, damaging houses and huge crops.

Fulgazi Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Nurul Islam said the floodwater entered the villages through the damaged parts of the embankment at Jaipur part in Sadar Union.

Abdur Rahim, a resident of East Ghania Mora village, said, “Our homestead has been flooded. We have lost all of our crops.”

Executive Engineer Zahir Uddin, of the WDB Feni office, said the water in the Muhuri River was flowing 140cm above the danger level. “The river will swell further if the water from upstream continues to pour in,” he said.

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Locals said they have been hit by floods thrice this monsoon -- on July 1, August 26, and last on September 5. The repeated damages to the embankment are flooding the areas and leaving them in dire straits.

Cyclones, heavy monsoon rains, and floods are common in Bangladesh, a delta nation crisscrossed by 230 rivers.