RM Salim Shahi: 'I have never seen such a drop in my life. We are river dwellers, we live by the river. Every year during the monsoons, the mountain falls, and the water from this fall floods the valley. But I have never seen the flood that happened this time in my life, nor have I heard from the teachers. What has happened this time is not a trickle or a flood, it is like a flood. Suddenly, a huge wave came across the river and the water rose from house to house. In an instant, everything began to sink in. Somehow I left the house with my life. All that was in the room was washed away. I could not take anything except the clothes for reading. The house was not saved at all. The ground in the yard has been dug and twisted into a big hole.'
This is how Sajedul Islam, a resident of Batkuchi village on the bank of Chellakhali River in Poragaon Union of Nalitabari Upazila of Sherpur, was describing the horrific experience.
On Saturday (October 12) the area on the two banks of the Pahari River was visited on the ground. There was no way to understand, here was a beautiful settlement. People's lives were normal. If you look at the current condition of Batkuchi village on both sides of the river, it would seem that it is not a mountain slope; Like the coastal area, the tsunami swept over the village on the banks of the river. Only about 200 houses on both banks of this village are now like ruins. Looking at the trees on the banks of the river, it seems that a terrible tornado has passed over them. A devastated village is now called Batkuchi.
According to Nalitabari upazila administration, 1 thousand 187 houses have been completely damaged in Nalitabari alone due to this terrible flood. 4 thousand 680 houses were partially damaged. Till Thursday, 7 people, including women and children, have died due to drowning in flood water and the collapse of mud wall of the house. All the 12 unions of this upazila were affected by floods. The municipality was not spared from the flood. However, Rupnarayankura, Yogania, Morichpuran and Kalspar Unions have been more affected. Not a single pond was spared in an Aman paddy field of these unions. The worst violence in the district is going on in this upazila. Jhenaigati upazila is at the second level in the list of damages. The number of completely destroyed houses in this upazila is 500. More than 1,000 have been partially damaged. The body of an unidentified woman was found in the flood water. Also, 110 houses were completely destroyed in Nakla upazila. 200 partially destroyed. 3 people drowned in flood water in this upazila. A total of 12 people have drowned in the flood this year in the district. Aman and vegetables have lost about 500 crore rupees. About 70 crore rupees worth of pond fish has been washed away. The roads of Roads and Highways Department have been damaged to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) roads have been damaged to the tune of Tk 113 crore. All in all, a devastation took place in Sherpur.
In such a situation, the victims want not only a little food aid to survive, but also resettlement with homesteads. They want a permanent barrage to be constructed here.
Mahmuda Khatun, a housewife of Batkuchi village, said that all the houses were washed away. The road to the exit was washed away. Now we don't need any fuss. Need house. Need rehabilitation. Salsha Khatun, another housewife, said that we do not want relief. I want rehabilitation. I want my house back.
Jamal Uddin of the same village said that all the houses were destroyed. Now we live in other people's houses. Someone is tying chayla (chala). Someone took shelter in another's balcony. I will never be able to recover the damage done to the house. At home, the tins are twisted. Nothing else will work.
Another resident, Kamal Uddin, said that last Friday (October 4) morning, the house suddenly started to overflow. I couldn't return it even with two feet of earth on top of the cooking area with the local people. In an instant, everything is broken and washed away. I somehow got away with life. The house was swept away by the landslide. The furniture of the house was also taken away. Nothing left.
Nalitabari Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) said in this regard. Masud Rana said, allocation request has been sent from the upazila administration to the concerned ministry for the rehabilitation of the victims due to the sudden landslide. Necessary measures will be taken for them later. Apart from this, various relief assistance has already been provided to the flood victims including distribution of dry food.
