Over 100 villages flooded in Feni

Severe flooding has struck three upazilas in Feni – Fulgazi, Parshuram, and Chhagalnaiya – leaving over a 100 villages submerged and more than a lakh people stranded. 

These upazilas are located near the Indian border, and according to Google’s flood alert system, the water levels of the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers have surpassed the danger mark.

Local sources reported that more than 40 villages in Fulgazi Upazila have been flooded. Similarly, over 45 villages in Parshuram Upazila are submerged. In Chhagalnaiya Upazila, several villages are also underwater.

The floods have submerged roads, ponds, and cropland in these areas. In some places, floodwaters have even reached the roofs and tin sheds of houses, forcing locals to seek refuge elsewhere. 

Local administration and various volunteer organisations have provided relief aid to the flood-affected people.

At the beginning of last month, cracks appeared at 15 points along the banks of the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers. While repairs were made, further breaches occurred at 12 more points in the barrage earlier this month, leading to the flooding of over a hundred villages, said Feni resident Sulaiman Hazari.

“The damage to infrastructure, crops, and fisheries has exceeded Tk30 crore. Now, just 15 days later, another flood has occurred,” Hazari added. 

Feni Deputy Commissioner Musammat Shahina Akhter said, “The administration is actively engaged in relief efforts and rescue operations.”

Abul Kashem, sub-divisional engineer of the Water Development Board, said, “The water level of the Muhuri River is flowing 86 centimeters above the danger mark.”

Munir Hossain, a meteorologist at the Feni Weather Office, reported, “In the last 24 hours, 97 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded.