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An upstream surge of water coupled with several days of continuous rainfall has inundated large areas of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia, leaving thousands of people stranded in the river-surrounded Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions.
The Water Development Board (WDB) said the Padma had risen by around 88 centimetres at the Hardinge Bridge point in the past week, the highest rise recorded there in three years.
The river was flowing at around 13 metres on Thursday, about 92cm below the danger level of 13.80 metres. The WDB said the water level could continue rising until today, raising fears that the situation may deteriorate further.
During a visit to the affected areas, this reporter found vast low-lying areas across nearly 40 villages inundated. Most roads were under water, while floodwater had entered or surrounded many homes. Some houses were completely submerged, with residents using dinghies and small boats as their main means of transportation.
50,000 stranded in Ramkrishnapur
Siraj Mondal, chairman of Ramkrishnapur Union Parishad, said around 50,000 people in 20 to 23 villages in his union had been stranded by the floodwaters.
Water has entered many homes, while residents of inundated houses are being taken by boat to relatively safer and higher areas, he said.
Most roads in the union have gone under water, leaving dinghies and small boats as the main means of transportation.
25 institutions suspend classes
Floodwater has also entered educational institutions in the affected areas.
Considering students’ safety, in-person classes at 25 primary and secondary educational institutions in the two unions have been suspended.
However, the school buildings have been kept open so that flood-affected people can take shelter there if necessary.
Mushtaq Ahmed, upazila primary education officer, and Faruk Ahmed, upazila secondary education officer (additional charge), said educational activities were continuing despite the suspension of in-person classes.
Chilmari almost cut off
Mannan Uddin, chairman of Chilmari Union Parishad, said water had entered homes in low-lying areas of 17 of the union’s 19 villages.
He estimated that around 25,000 to 30,000 people had been stranded by the floodwaters.
Almost all roads in the union have been submerged, leaving virtually the entire union cut off by water, he said.
Mannan said dry food, safe drinking water and medical supplies were distributed among affected people by the administration on Wednesday.
350 hectares of cropland inundated
The flooding has also affected agriculture.
According to the Agriculture Office, around 350 hectares of cropland in the two unions have been inundated.
Aman paddy, bananas, chillies and other crops have been damaged, while officials fear that losses could increase if the water level rises further.
For stranded people, access to safe drinking water, food and cattle feed has emerged as a major concern.
The upazila administration is monitoring the situation and working to provide safe drinking water, food and medical supplies to affected communities.
Upstream flow, rain blamed
The WDB has identified upstream water flow and excessive rainfall as the main causes of the rise in the Padma.
Local residents and elected representatives have also pointed to the arrival of water from upstream.
Some residents claimed that water released through the Farakka Barrage, along with rainwater, contributed to the rapid rise in the river. However, the WDB has not confirmed any such release.
Asauddoula, executive engineer of the Kushtia WDB, said the Padma had risen due to water flowing downstream from upstream areas and excessive rainfall.
He said the low-lying areas of Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari are inundated almost every year.
Local elected representatives fear that further rises in the Padma could increase the number of affected people and the extent of damage.