Md. Mumiduzzaman Jahan:

At least 12 homesteads and a government primary school in Jotpara village in Chowhali upazila of Sirajganj district were devoured by the devastating river Jamuna at a night on last Saturday putting many people at risk.

Not only that, over 100 homesteads and vast tract of croplands in the area are now under threat of erosion. These installations may wash out in the river anytime, if necessary protection measures are not taken right now, locals apprehended.

Locals said that, a part of two tin shed rooms of K.K. West Jotpara Government Primary School adjacent to Janata High School in the mentioned village and 12 homesteads collapsed into the Jamuna river in the dark of night on last Saturday. As the devastation was occurred at night, tenants of the houses could not rescue their furniture and other valuables except saving their own lives, victims said.

After the incident, affected families have been leading miserable lives under the open sky without any government or non-government assistance, while many panic stricken people have shifted their homesteads to safer place in fear of erosion.

“Due to devastation of Jamuna, many people in the area have turned into homeless and destitute. The river devoured 12 homes and a part of the school in less than 40 minutes. During the collapsing time in the dark of night, affected people started hue and cry and run here and there seeking help to protect their valuables, but to no effect. Their dreams and last addresses had gone to the riverbed in a while,” Ruhiton Bewa, 55, a widow of the Jotpara village said breaking down in tear.

Rabiul Islam and Anwar Hossain of the village complained that, hundreds of installations go to the riverbed in each monsoon. However, the authorities concerned of the WDB don’t take any permanent measure to protect the area except dumping some sand sacks along with Geo-textile for a temporary protection. If long-term protection measures are taken, local people would not have to face such erosion in the future.

Mokhlesur Rahman, Executive Engineer of WDB in Sirajganj said, “After hearing the information, emergency work was started at the damaged area. Erosion situation of the point has already come under control. Further necessary measures would be taken in the dry season.”