Persistent rain floods parts of Satkhira

Persistent rain for the last few days has caused severe flooding across several low-lying villages in the Satkhira district.

Seven upazilas have been inundated due to incessant rainfall caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal for the last four days, leaving several thousand local people belonging to hundreds of families marooned, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension of Satkhira.

Severe flooding has been reported in Sadar, Tala, Assasuni, Debhata, Kaliganj, Shyamnagar, and Kalaroa upazilas of the district, causing untold suffering to the people.

At least 710 hectares of Aman paddy croplands and 101 hectares of croplands with winter vegetables have gone underwater, DAE’s Deputy Director Md Nurul Islam told The Business Post.

Rainwater submerged all types of structures, including farmlands, homesteads, water bodies, regional roads, fish enclosures, homes, and business establishments as it did not flow naturally to the Betna river due to the district’s faulty water drainage system, local people said.

At least ten key water bodies of the district, including Godai Beel, Chaglar Beel, Shalyer Beel, Binerpotar Beel, Raknagarer Beel, Machkholar Beel, have been flooded alongside hundreds of ponds and fish enclosures, causing massive waterlogging in the area.

Zulfiqar Ali Ripon, acting officer-in-charge of Satkhira Water Development Board, said the district experienced 91 mm of rainfall from Monday 6am to Tuesday 6am (October 18 to October 19), and it will intensify in the next two days.

Thousands of locals living in Islamkati, Kumira, Patkelghata, Magura of Tala upazila, Pratapnagar, Anulia, Khajra, Baradal, Sreeula, Sadar, Kadakati of Assasuni upazila, Gabura, Padmapukur, Kashimbari, Burigoalini, Koikhali, Ramjannagar of Shyamnagar upazila, Moutola, Mothureshpur, Bharashimla of Kaliganj upazila have been stranded, said Jakir Hossain, chairman of Pratapnagar union.

DAE’s Deputy Director Md Nurul Islam said the rainfall will decrease as soon as the low pressure and depression in the Bay of Bengal clears out.