Sirajul Islam Shishir and Raaz Mostafa:

People of different shoals (Chars) and low laying areas in five upazilas of Sirajganj district fear to face flash floods as the river Jamuna and its tributaries have started swelling due to onrush of water from upstream.

On the other hand, erosion has taken serious turn at different places in the upazilas with the rising of water level in Jamuna. Consequently, many villages, croplands and installations have now threatened by erosion.

On Thursday, the water of Jamuna river near Sirajganj town protection embankment point was flowing about 1.13cm below the danger mark after rising about 37cm in the last 24 hours.

In this circumstance, the river experts are apprehending that the water of Jamuna may cross the danger level within one or two days inundating several villages including low laying areas in five upazilas of the district.

The upazilas, which may be affected with floods, include Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chowhali and Shahzadpur.

Officials of Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj said, water level of Jamuna has been started rising since the beginning of June due to onrush of water from upstream. The trend of rising water level has been taken serious turn since June 18. Meanwhile, many low laying areas in the mentioned upazilas have started inundating with the water.

Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Executive Engineer (EE) of Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj said, “The water of Jamuna is likely to increase for four to five more days, if heavy to very heavy rains continue with the onrush of water from upstream. Such rush of water may cause of small to medium shaped of floods at places in the district. But, there is nothing to panic.”

People of different Chars in five upazilas of the district fear to incur losses, if they are affected with the floods like Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj.

“Our crops including vegetables will damage, if the crop lands, low laying areas and our villages are engulfed with the flood water. Sensing the matter of flooding many people in our villages have started to take precautionary measures since right now with a view to face any kind of unpredicted situation,” said Kabil Uddin, a resident of Mesrar Char, also a shoal of Sirajganj Sadar upazila.

Ramichha Bewa, another resident of Natuarpara village in Kazipur upazila of the district said, “We will face trouble over our domestic animals, if the flood affects us. Though, people can stay on high lands or embankments by setting up makeshift houses, domestic animals face acute fodder and accommodation crisis.”

“We have nothing to do for them,” she added.