Tens of thousands of people were water-locked as the flood situation became worse in Mirsarai, Fatikchari, Raujan and Hathajari of Chattogram. The members of the families trapped in flood waters are pleading for shelter but due to lack of sufficient numbers of boats and trawlers, it was not possible to bring them in the shelters in many cases.
The family of Mohammad Faisal got trapped in Anandabazar area of Dhum Union in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram. They pleaded several times for just a boat to get to the shelter. However, due to the lack of boat, it wasn’t made possible to send them there. This is common scenario to most of the flood-stricken upazilas, not just to Mirsarai.
Elderly Mohammad Elyas, a resident of Golkerhat area of Mirsarai, said in a tearful voice, "I surrendered my house and furniture to the mercy of Allah and managed to escape with my life.I had nothing with me except clothes to wear. Now we’ve have to stay at the shelter. Yesterday the water was not high, so I did not leave the house. Today the whole house is submerged in water, and I can't live anymore. I am coming to the shelter with the whole family. Surrendering everything to the mercy Allah, I’ve escaped just with my life in hand.”
People in many flood-affected areas did not leave their homes on Thursday. Later in the night, many people took shelter on the roof as the water rose. If they want to come to the shelter Thursday morning, the boat is unable to come due to the crisis. If they cannot go to a safe shelter by evening, their lives may be in extreme danger. Four Unions of Mirsarai on the banks of Feni River have been affected by the terrible floods of the past few days. Other badly affected areas are Jaipur Purbo Joar, Paschim Joar, Katagang, Alinagar, Habildarbasa, Chattarua, Azamnagar, Ganakchara, and Madhya Azamnagar of Hinguli Union. Hundreds of people were stranded in Yarhat, Mubarakghona, Shantirhat, Naherpur, Golkerhat, Moulvibazar, Mina Bazar and Anand Bazar areas of Dhum Union on Friday. People are stuck in water in around 50,000 villages including West Noapara, Palawanpara, Mokamipara, Sam Mahaldarpara, Chamidar Kwang, Kachukhain, South Noapara, Moishkaram, Saudagarpara, Sujarpara, East Urkirchar, Khalifa Ghona, Baiizzakhali, Bagoan, West Gujra, Gahira, Nawajishpur, Chikdair, Dabua of Raujan Upazila. Among the flooded areas of Hathajari upazila are Farhadbar, Mandakini, Burishchar, Shikarpur, Gardwara, Dakshin Madarsha, Uttara Madarsha, Mekhal, several wards of the municipality, Nangalmora, Chipatali. Halda river has overflowed and the houses along the banks are submerged in water.
Mirsarai Upazila UNO Mahfuza Jerin said, “Everyone is asked to go to a safe place before the water rises. But many did not go. As the water has increased since Thursday night, they are now in need of going to a safe shelter. We are sending boats as much as we can. But boats are not enough compared to the number of the people.”
Mozzamel Haque Chowdhury, UNO of Fatikchari, said that the water of Halda river started decreasing from morning. This is improving the wildlife situation in the area. The water is coming down slowly. Many have brought relief and boats. But big boats cannot be lowered. In addition, not all areas can be reached by road due to their broken conditions.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on August 24 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
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