Erosion of embankment of Kholpetua River : 10 villages flooded, leaving thousands of families homeless in Ashashuni
Ashashuni (Satkhira) Correspondent
The embankment of the Kholpetua River in Bichte of Anulia Union, Ashashuni Upazila, has broken, flooding 10 villages. Several thousand bighas of cropland, fish enclosures, and poultry farms have been washed away. The flood-affected people of the inundated areas, having lost all their resources, have taken shelter on the nearby Paubo embankment adjacent to the breach. There is a shortage of food for both humans and cattle.
According to eyewitnesses, local sources, and on-site visits, it has been learned that cracks had appeared in the Paubo embankment on the western side adjacent to Bichte Government Primary School some days earlier. As the embankment became risky, local residents became panicked and spent sleepless nights. Finally, on Monday, 31 March (the day of Eid-ul-Fitr), around 8 a.m., due to the pressure of the tide, the saline water of the Kholpetua River began to enter by overflowing the embankment. Before the locals could attempt to protect the water, 10/15 hands (a measure of length) of the embankment broke and merged into the riverbed. As a result, the river water entered with great force, flooding Bichte village, including homes, fish enclosures, cropland, ponds, and poultry farms. While offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, Anulia UP Chairman Ruhul Kuddus, UP members, political leaders, and locals received the news via mobile phones and quickly reached the site. By 9 a.m., with a swift decision, they began voluntary work and initially constructed a small ring embankment.
However, around 12 p.m., the tidal water swelled excessively, breaching the ring embankment, and within moments, 40/50 feet of the embankment broke, allowing water to enter with great force.
Upon receiving the news, UNO Krishna Roy, Paubo authorities from Satkhira, and BNP and Jamaat leaders at the upazila level visited the site. As the tidal water entered and drained into the river during the ebb tide, the breach in the embankment continued to widen until the time of writing this report (evening of 1 April), with about 300 feet of the embankment having merged into the riverbed. Ten villages of the union, including Bichte, Nayakhali, Ballabhpur, Anulia, and Kakbasia, have been submerged in water, leaving approximately 1,200 families trapped. Submerged in water,
Nearly 3,500 bighas of fish enclosures, 21 hectares of cropland, ponds, ducks, chickens, and cattle-goat farms have been damaged. More than 100 mud houses have been submerged and destroyed. In these flooded areas, people are facing a shortage of cooked food, poultry, and cattle feed. The flood-affected people of the inundated areas have taken shelter in nearby shelters and on the Paubo embankment under the open sky. Some have gone to relatives’ homes in other villages. Occasionally, some youths have been seen distributing dry food among the people trapped in the flooded areas.
Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Satyajit Mazumdar said that so far, 300 to 350 fish enclosures have been washed away by the river water. Fish in approximately 4,500 bighas of enclosures have been damaged. Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Shubhrangshu Shekhar Das said that, according to preliminary estimates, 20 hectares of paddy fields and 1.5 hectares of vegetable fields have been submerged in water. If the embankment is not protected, the paddy, vegetable, and watermelon farmers in the area will suffer severe losses. In this regard, Satkhira District Administrator Mostak Ahmed said that he has instructed the officials of Paubo’s Polder Nos. 1 and 2 to work together in a planned manner to complete the embankment construction quickly.
The authorities have assured that the embankment will be built within a very short time. The Executive Engineer of Paubo said that they are working on a rapid plan to complete the embankment construction, assuring everyone that it could be completed within the next 2/3 days.
UP Chairman Ruhul Kuddus said that if the embankment cannot be constructed within the next 4/5 days, the adjacent areas of Khajra, Bardal, and Pratapnagar will be flooded. During the inspection of the breach site, present were UNO Krishna Roy, Anulia UP Chairman and former General Secretary of Upazila BNP Ruhul Kuddus, Pratapnagar UP Chairman Haji Abu Daud Dhali, former Convener of Upazila BNP S.M. Hedayetul Islam, Jamaat Upazila Working Council member Maulana Nurul Afsar Murtaja, along with local representatives, upazila and union BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists, and notable persons were present.
