8 houses washed away in Arial Khan erosion

At least eight houses were washed away within 24 hours due to erosion of the Arial Khan River in Babuganj upazila of Barishal district.

Roads, croplands and trees were also affected by the erosion. As a result, several riverside families lost their homes within a short time on Wednesday.

After receiving news of the erosion, Babuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Asma ul Husna rushed to the affected area amid inclement weather on Wednesday afternoon. She visited the affected areas and handed over emergency food supplies to the affected families.

Earlier, the erosion took a serious turn in Lohalia village of Rahmatpur Union of the upazila on Tuesday evening.
UNO Asma ul Husna said she inspected the affected area as soon as she received news of the sudden erosion along the Arial Khan River. She said food supplies had been provided to the affected families considering their immediate needs.
“The issue of providing necessary assistance to the affected people is being given priority,” she said.
She added that initiatives had been taken to take prompt measures in coordination with the Water Development Board and other relevant departments to prevent further erosion. Locals said a crack developed along about 100 feet of the riverbank in the afternoon. Subsequently, several houses, along with around 50 feet of a road, were gradually swallowed by the river. The situation deteriorated so quickly that many residents did not get an opportunity to remove their belongings.
The victims said water levels in the river had risen due to several days of rain, causing landslides along the riverbank. Later, they lost their homes, trees and croplands to sudden erosion before their eyes.
Many of the affected people have now taken shelter in the open or at relatives’ homes.
Local Union Parishad member Jamal Hossain Putul said the houses and land of several families, including Mohammad Kalam Sardar, Azhar Mollah, Matlab Hawladar, Hakim Hawladar, Mohammad Hasib, Sufia Begum, Kalam Sardar and Shamsu Hawladar, were swallowed by the Arial Khan River due to the sudden erosion.
He said there was a possibility that the situation could worsen.