The Water Development Board could not repair the erosion site of the Khowai River in the Kaliganj area of Habiganj Sadar Upazila even after a month and a half. As a result, the repaired dam broke again due to heavy rains and water coming down from upstream one night, causing water to enter the locality in a strong stream. This has flooded approximately 20 villages around the river. This has created a new panic among the villagers.
Erosion began at the repair site of the Khowai River dam on Sunday morning. Earlier, on Saturday night, heavy rains and landslides upstream caused the water level in the Khowai River to rise. Earlier, on July 9, at around 9 pm, the Khowai River dam in the Kaliganj area of the upazila burst, flooding around 30 villages. Locals said that this caused hundreds of crores of taka of damage to the residents of the area. Later, the Water Development Board started the work of repairing the dam, but the locals complained about the slowness of the work and irregularities. They alleged that if the dam was repaired on time and permanent preventive measures were taken, it would have been possible to avoid another erosion incident at the same place. But since the damage site was not repaired even after a month and a half, the water from the upstream has broken through the same place again and flooded village after village. The way the water level in the river is rising, panic is increasing among the villagers.
Water has entered 20 villages in the upazila, including Dakshin Charhamua, Uttar Charhamua, Kaliganj, Sughar, Adyapasha, Noabad, Hatirthan, Katiadi, Baidyer Bazar, Bangaon, and Dakshin Bangaon. Cropland in the area has been submerged and ponds and fisheries are being washed away by the floodwaters.
Ershad Ali, a resident of the local union, said, “A month and a half ago, a dam broke in the same place, flooding 30 villages. People lived in great hardship. As soon as this grief passed, the same place broke again. The reason for this was the slowness and irregularities in repairing the breached area.”
On the ground, people, including children, the elderly, women, and livestock, are running to safety. Their homes are being submerged in water before their eyes.
Meanwhile, water rose on the Dhuliakhal-Mirpur road around 3 pm. If the water continues to rise, traffic on this road may be stopped.
Saidur Rahman, executive engineer of Habiganj Water Development Board, said that the water of the Khowai River at Balla Point is flowing 130 centimeters above the danger level. He said that the low-lying areas of the district have been flooded due to the increase in water level.
