A surging high tide has breached embankments in Noakhali’s Hatiya and Nijhum Dwip inundating at least 10 villages. Cracks were spotted in three places till Thursday noon. At least 10,000 people have been stranded in inundated areas of Hatiya, in Noakhali, following heavy downpour and unusually high tide. The rising in waters added to the local residents’ woes by flooding large tracts of standing rice crops. Hatiya Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Mahedur Rahman said the low-lying areas of Hatiya and Nijhum Dwip were waterlogged. After visiting the affected areas, Rahman said the government help would be provided after ascertaining the nature of the damages. Some 100 feet of locally-built dykes in Nalchira and Sukhchar Union were breached, He added.
“The inundation may critically affect crops,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hatiya remained cut off from the district Sadr, as the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended ferry operations citing bad weather.
Nijhum Dwip Union Parishad Chairman Mehraj Uddin said that tides almost six feet higher than normal and heavy rain submerged the area. “Now water has entered most of the houses and shops.”
The areas affected in Nijum Dwip are Namar Bazar, Bashundhara, Islampur, Dhanshiri, Chayabithi, Molla Gram, Munsi Gram, Bou Bazar and CDSP Bazar. At least 10,000 people live in these areas.
-With The Independent input
