50,000 people marooned as over 100 villages flooded in Netrakona

Continuous heavy rainfall for three days and upstream water from India have submerged the low-lying areas of at least 13 unions in Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas of Netrakona district, submerging over 105 villages.

In addition, around 350 hectares of Aman rice fields have gone underwater, and the floodwater has submerged the Mymensingh-Jaria railway tracks, making train travel risky.
The water level of Durgapur's Someshwari River, Jaria's Kangsa River, and Kalmakanda's Ubada Khal River is approaching the danger level. The water levels of Mohadeo, Sadar, and Barhatta's Kangsa, Mogra, and Dhanu rivers in Kalmakanda are also rising steadily.

According to Netrakona Water Development Board (WDB) office, as of 11AM on Sunday, the water level of the Someshwari River at Durgapur point was flowing just 0.25 meters below the danger level, the Kangsa River at Jaria point was 0.3 meters below, and the Ubada Khal River at Kalmakanda Dak Bungalow point was 0.5 meters below the danger level. The danger level is 11.55 meters at Durgapur Point, 10.55 meters at Jaria point, and 6.55 meters at Kalmakanda point.

The WDB reported that since Thursday morning (October 3), there has been 341 mm of rainfall in Cherrapunji, India, over 72 hours. In the same period, 650 mm of rainfall was recorded at Durgapur and Jaria Jhanzail stations in Netrakona, causing an increase in the water levels of all rivers and streams in the district. Water from the Bhogai-Kangsa River in Sherpur is flowing into the Ubada Khal River in Kalmakanda through the Kangsa River in Jaria, leading to flooding of low-lying areas.

The floodwater has submerged around 200 hectares of Aman fields in the low-lying areas of Kullagara, Kakairgara, Bakaljora, Chandigad, and Gaokandia unions of Durgapur upazila; and Rongsati, Lengura, Kharnai, Nazirpur, Kailati, Pogla, Borkhapon, and Kalmakanda Sadar unions of Kalmakanda upazila. Several roads and school grounds, including Chanpur-Govindapur, Kalmakanda-Baurakona, Kalmakanda-Bishampur, and Kalmakanda-Montala, have also gone underwater.

Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Durgapur, Mostafizur Rahman, said that about 35 villages in five unions of the upazila have been flooded, with approximately 150 hectares of rice fields underwater.

Acting UNO of Kalmakanda, Shahidul Islam, reported that around 66 villages in eight unions have been flooded, affecting about 200 hectares of rice fields. However, if the water recedes quickly, significant damage is not expected.

District Commissioner Bonani Biswas said that three lakh taka in cash has been allocated for Kalmakanda, Durgapur, Purbadhala, and Netrakona Sadar upazilas. In addition, 60 metric tons of rice and 2,000 packets of dry food are being distributed.