People on banks of Gomti River feel bad whenever it rains continuously
Zakir Azad, Cumilla
People on the banks of the Gomti river feel bad whenever there are dense clouds in the sky. Fear sets in whenever there is continuous rain.
A few months ago, the Gomti dam was breached by the Indian hills due to heavy rains, and this year, the people of this area have been hit by hostile weather again. For the past few days, weather forecasts through various media have been telling the people of this area about heavy rains and rising river water. And this rainfall and the forecast of rising river water is now a message of fear for the people on the banks of the river in Cumilla .The residents inside the river embankment are more afraid. They fear that if the river water crosses the danger mark, they will have to lose their homes and places to rest.
However, the Water Development Board authorities say that everyone should be aware of the weather forecast without panicking.
Due to heavy rains, the Gomti River suddenly started flowing above the danger level from August 18, 2024. All the houses and agricultural land on the Beri Dam were submerged in it. Due to lack of advance preparation, thousands of people left everything and took refuge on the dam with their lives in their hands. In the meantime, due to the opening of the Dambula Dam on the Gomti in India, the water of the Gomti River in Cumilla started flowing 113 centimetres above the danger level on the night of August 22. Due to the abnormal increase in water in the river, the dam broke in the Buriburia area of Burichang Upazila and more than a hundred villages were submerged in the floodwaters.
About 1500 houses were damaged, agricultural land was submerged, fisheries, cattle, and poultry farms were washed away. The government reported a loss of more than 30,000 crore taka. That fear still haunts the people of this area. Heavy rainfall and weather forecasts make them feel bad.
Tuku Mondal, a fisherman living inside the Gomti Beri Dam in Durgapur area of Sadar Upazila of Cumilla , said, "For the past three or four days, I have been hearing on Facebook and in the news that the water in the Gomti River will rise. Since then, I get scared whenever there is a cloud in the sky. It's like last year again. When there is continuous rain, the water in the river will rise and all the houses will sink."
Pramod said, "Last year, I thought the water wouldn't rise that high. But suddenly in the middle of the night, water started entering the house. I somehow got to the bank with the children. Everything else had been submerged for about 15 days. So this time I'm already feeling scared."
Since it is not a coastal district, the people of Cumilla are not used to knowing the weather forecast. But last year's flood has created panic in the district this year. We are repeatedly checking to see how much the water in the river has risen and whether there is a possibility of crossing the danger mark.
Rokman Mia, a farmer over 17, who lives on the banks of the Gumti River in Palpara area of Sadar Upazila, said, "I have never seen a flood like the one that happened last time. If people had known earlier, they could have taken their houses and kept them on the banks. The government should provide accurate information to the people. If necessary, use microphones. If there is no danger, people will not panic if they know the correct information."
Halima Khatun, a resident of the same area, said that after the flood, dam repair work is underway this year. Seeing this, I feel a little braver. I hope that the dam will not break again this year.
Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman, executive engineer of the Cumilla Water Development Board, said that with the rainfall that is happening now, there is no possibility that the water of the Gumti River will cross the danger mark in a very short time. We have to be aware of the weather so that panic does not spread. We are keeping updates on the Gumti River.
Arifur Rahman, head of the Cumilla Meteorological Office, said that there was a possibility of heavy rainfall in Cumilla on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and it is raining. From 6 pm on Wednesday to 6 pm on Thursday, 46 mm of rainfall has been recorded in 24 hours.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Cumilla Pankaj Barua said, we are ready for any disaster situation in Cumilla . In case of a very disaster-prone situation, 586 shelter centers are always ready in Cumilla .
Besides, the repair work of Burburiya dam in Gomti has been completed. Dam repair work is also underway in other places. Hopefully, the people of Cumilla will get advance warning in any hostile environment.
