Impact of Cyclone Remal: 30,000 people marooned, 14 villages flooded at Hatiya

NOAKHALI, May 27: Cyclone Remal deluged 14 villages including nine ones of Nijum Dwip Union in Hatia Upazila of the district, submerging all main roads and bazaars in nine wards of the union.

The cyclone wind started to hit the coastal upazila at noon on Sunday (May 26), and flooded these villages.

Tidal surge caused swelling to river levels in the upazila by 4-5 feet.
Inundated villages included Nijum Dwip Unions Molla Gram, Munsi Gram, Adarsha Gram, Bandakhali Gram, Dubaiyer Khal Gram, Islampur Gram, Anandaguchhhagram, Batayan Gram, Basundhara Gram, Dhansniri Gram, Purbachal Gram, and Horni Unions Char Ghasia, Boyrarchar Gram, Nolchira Unions Tufania Gram, and Tomroddi Unions Tomroddui Gram.

A local dweller Zillur Rahman said, the downpour started at 10am, causing abnormal tidal surge that inundated the entire upazila having six unions; tide water entered houses and disrupted all road communications.

Another dewller Firoz Alam said, about 40,000 people dwell at Nijum Dwip; this union is very close to the sea, but it has no embankment; so, the tide water starts to enter the union locality from four directions at a time.

Nijum Dwip Union Chairman Nurul Afsar Md Donaj Uddin said, heavy rainfall and tidal surge beginning from Sunday noon inundated nine villages, confining about 25,000-30,000 people; fodder and fish enclosures were floated away; and in the absence of embankment, the union became almost entirely submerged.

Hatiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shubhashish Chakma confirmed submergence of six unions in the upazila, causing suspension to different transports, such as see-trucks and trawlers.

In consideration of safety of life and belongings, waterway communication suspension will continue until further instruction, he added.

He further said, to face the situation, 242 shelter centres have been kept ready.

The upazila administration is monitoring the overall situation, the UNO maintained.