Three unions of Patuakhali's Kalapara are being flooded heavily by the tidal water of Ravanabad River. The people of 10 villages have already become waterlogged due to the water entering the river through the broken embankment. Vast Aman crop fields were submerged due to the instant flood. In the rural area, the roads along with residential houses are under knee-deep water. There is an acute shortage of clean water. But the administration including public representatives did not come forward yet to help these water-bound people. However, the upazila executive officer said that hundreds of families will be given packets of dry food including rice and pulses on Saturday.
Due to the onset of full moon tide, the height of river water and the surge of waves increased, tidal water started entering through the broken dam of Burajalia of Charipara dam in Lalua and Devpur in Champapur.
The chairmen of these two unions said that several kilometers of Debpur and Charipara dams have been broken for many years. This time the broken dam has broken even more. As this broken dam is not repaired, six villages of Champapur and Lalua Union are flooded with river water every year when the rain or stormy season starts.
Meanwhile, various points of the bypass dam adjacent to North Nishanbaria and Codek Bazar Bridge of Dhankhali Union have been breached by water. In this, four villages of this union have been flooded by tidal water of Ravanabad river. New villages are being flooded every day.
Meanwhile, as the water level of the river is gradually increasing, there is a shortage of fresh water in the waterlogged villages. As every village is under two to three feet of water, houses along with internal roads are under water. But no one is coming forward to help these people.
The affected family members said that there was water in the house and water outside. Some with cattle, chickens, some in houses and house posts, some on the embankment. No cooking facilities. But no one is coming to help them. If this continues for a few more days, the prevalence of various diseases including water-borne diseases will increase in this area.
Kalapara upazila executive officer Abu Hasnat Mohammad Shahidul Haque said that upazila administration will distribute dry food including rice, dal, oil to one hundred families today. For this purpose, relief packagers are being created.