On Friday (July 5), severe erosion was observed in several areas, including Valcutia, Chituliyapara, Kostapara, and Matikata, Patitapara, and Bahadur Tukna in Nikrail Union of Govindasi Union of the upazila. Residents of these areas are living in great fear. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Mamunur Rashid, Executive Engineer of Tangail Water Development Board Md. Sajjad Hossain, and Chairman of Nikrail Union Parishad Md. Masudul Haque Masud visited the erosion-affected areas and assured that geo-bags would be placed within a day or two.
According to the Tangail Water Development Board's data at 9 AM today, Saturday (July 6), in the last 24 hours, the water level of the Jhinai River at the Jokarchar point has risen by 14 centimeters, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River at the Porabari point by 8 centimeters, the Dhaleshwari River at the Elasin point by 27 centimeters, the Fatikjani River at the Nalchapa Bridge point by 18 centimeters, the Bangshai River at the Kauljani point by 24 centimeters, at the Mirzapur point by 12 centimeters, and at the Madhupur point by 17 centimeters. Meanwhile, river erosion continues in various areas of several upazilas due to the rising water levels.
Last year, geo-bags were installed by the Water Development Board to prevent erosion during the floods. However, the guide dams are collapsing due to the unloading of dredgers. Paved and semi-paved roads, guide dams, houses, mosques, temples, various educational institutions, and other structures built at the cost of millions of taka are at risk of erosion.
Residents complain that the Water Development Board placed geo-bags nominally last year, and these are now at risk of collapsing. Influential people have placed geo-bags in front of their homes using their influence, while the homes of poor people remain unprotected. Victims of last year's erosion said that sand traders illegally cut the chars that rise in the river during the dry season, selling them by truck, which changes the river's course and causes new erosion. Protesting against the sand traders is not possible, resulting in massive erosion when the water rises.
Abu Sufian and Jalal Pramanik of the erosion-affected Patitapara Bahadur Tukna area said that the Jamuna River was about one and a half to two miles away from their homes. Over the past few years, their croplands have been swallowed by the Jamuna's erosion, and their living spaces are also being eroded.
Nikrail Union Chairman Md. Masudul Haque Masud said that new river erosion has started in the Matikata, Patitapara, and Bahadur Tukna areas for the past two days. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the Water Development Board have been informed immediately and have inspected the areas, assuring that geo-bags will be placed to prevent erosion very soon.
Due to the abnormal rise in the Jamuna's water level, floodwaters have entered most of the houses in the char areas, submerging new areas. The flood-affected people are desperately seeking high ground for shelter, facing a shortage of clean water and food, and an acute shortage of animal feed.
UNO Mamunur Rashid said, "Over the past few days, new erosion has started in some places with the rise in the Jamuna River's water level. Floodwaters have entered several homes. I have visited the erosion-affected areas and dumped geo-bags at one site to prevent erosion. Necessary measures, including the dumping of geo-bags, will be taken quickly in other erosion-affected areas. Higher authorities have been informed to help the flood-affected people. We hope to receive allocations for them soon."
Md. Sajjad Hossain, Executive Engineer of the Tangail Water Development Board, said, "As the floodwater rises, erosion has been observed in some places. The erosion-affected areas have been inspected. Efforts are being made to prevent erosion in these areas using geo-bags to minimize damage."
The rising water levels continue to threaten Tangail, with new areas being flooded and significant challenges faced by the affected people.
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