Flood Control Embankment at Kalagachia, Golachipa of Barguna district was submerged by tidal surges on Saturday

Staff Correspondent: Tidal surges and continuous heavy rainfall triggered by land depression in the Bay of Bengal submersed further more areas in costal line on Saturday to maroon thousands of people and breached embankments as gushing waters washed away houses and crops.

Officials of Met Office said that rainfall occurred almost all over the country due to influence of the depression and it will continue one or two more days. They said the deep depression gradually weakened as it turned to be a land depression but the inclement weather continued to cause incessant downpour in coastlines and other parts of the country forcing people to stay indoors.

According to the met office source, 66 mm rainfall was recorded at Noakhali from 6 am to 12pm while 65 mm in Barisal, 58 mm at Cox’s Bazar, 56 mm in Chandpur, 51mm in Patuakhali, 49 mm in Dhaka, 45 mm at Khepupara 19 mm in Rangpur and 15 mm in Chittagong. Water Board officials said tidal surges above four to five feet above the “normal astronomical tide” hit the coastlines on Thursday night but the most parts of the coastlines were still underwater due to inflated sea waters, breach of embankments and heavy rainfall in several districts. In Patuakhali, a number of houses and hundreds of ponds and shrimp ‘ghers’ were washed away due to 4-5 feet height tidal surge.

The situation has been got worsen yesterday as the rainfall increased the level of water that marooned thousands of people. One of the excited tourist spots-Kuakata-has been affected severally as several coconut and Jhaw (tamarisk) tress of the beach were uprooted and numbers of shell shops of the beach were washed away. Local lunch service inside Patiuakhali, Barguna and Barisal districts remain suspended from Thursday. In Noakhali, low-lying areas including Sukchar, Nalchira, Chareshawar, Tomoddi, Nolerchar and Nijumdip of Hatiya inundated by the tidal surge that marooned 20,000 people along with damaging nearly 5000 acres of paddy land.

Communication of Nijum island with the main land remained snapped. In Barguna, a number of houses were washed away and 150 hectares of crops land damaged as tidal surge damaged flood control embankment at Tetulia under Amtoli upazila. In Bhola, thousands of people were marooned as tidal surge inundated 11 char lands. Our Cox’s Bazar correspondent adds: Tidal wave, heavy rainfall and hilly water has submerged the areas of Nazirartek, Pokkhlai, Coupadondi, Teknaf sadar, Hoyaikong, Sabrong, Shahpari Island, Matarbari and Kutibdia and washed away many houses and crops land.

Water level of Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers in the district are flowing above the danger mark. In different parts of Khulna district, hundreds of people were marooned and they have been suffering immensely. In Bagerhat, several dozens of shrimp ‘ghers’ were washed away as flood control embankments were damaged in different points in the district. Meanwhile, Officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said ferry services both on the Paturia-Dauladia and the Mawa-Kawrakandi routes were resumed yesterday after suspension of nearly two days.

Manager at Mawa ferry ghat said all 10 ferries including five flat ferries are operating now on the Mawa-Kawrakandi route. About 350 vehicles remained stranded both sides of the river till 5 pm Saturday. Manager at Dauladia ghat said ferry service between Dauladia and Paturia ghats have also been resumed, but it is taking more time compared to the normal period as the river is still rough. Presently, he said they are operating six ferries giving priority to buses and private cars to cross the river.