River erosion washes away 100 houses in Gaibandha

More than 100 houses have been washed away by severe river erosion at different points in Gaibandha while several hundred more homes remain at risk of being devoured by the rivers, particularly the Teesta, in Sundarganj upazila on Friday.

In the latest bout of sudden and intense erosion, the Teesta River has swallowed the homesteads of 83 families in the past 72 hours in Bhorer Pakhi Char area under Kapasia Union of Sundarganj upazila.

The erosion began suddenly on Wednesday near the northern side of Bhorer Pakhi Government Primary School. The intensity of the erosion was so severe that the homesteads of around 60 families disappeared into the river overnight, reports BSS.

Local people said that trees, poultry sheds and even ducks and chickens were swept away by the strong current. Many affected families are now taking shelter in open spaces, on embankments or in relatives’ yards.

At least 200 more families in the area are currently facing the threat of erosion, causing widespread panic among residents.

Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Iffat Jahan Tuli said she had visited the erosion-hit areas and dry food had been distributed among the affected families immediately.

“The Water Development Board has started work to prevent further erosion. We have instructed the authorities concerned to prepare a list of the affected families. Necessary assistance will be provided after the list is prepared,” she added.

Gaibandha Water Development Board Executive Engineer Shariful Islam said emergency geo-bag dumping had begun immediately after receiving reports of the erosion.

“An adequate number of geo-bags will be dumped in the area to protect the riverbank,” he added.
Residents and local representatives said the area has faced several bouts of erosion during the ongoing monsoon season. In the latest major incident on August 18, Bhorer Pakhi Government Primary School, the only educational institution for children living on the char, was completely washed away by the river.

Earlier, on July 16, sudden erosion hit the area, washing away the homesteads of nearly 100 families within a short time.

Kapasia Union Parishad (UP) member Hafizul Islam said erosion had continued in the area since the beginning of the monsoon.

“The severe erosion began around 3am last Wednesday. Within a very short time, the homesteads of 83 families, trees and even poultry sheds were swept away by the river,” he continued.

He further said more than 200 families were still at risk and urged the authorities to dump an adequate number of geo-bags to prevent further erosion.

The Water Development Board has already started work to control the erosion, he added.