Erosion by the Jamuna river has taken a serious turn in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura district, devouring over 100 houses and vast tracts of croplands in three villages during the last two weeks.

The villages are Hasnapara, Ichhamara and Kamalpur.

At Sariakandi point, the water of the river is flowing 11cm above the danger level. On Thursday evening, the water level at this point was recorded at 16.36 meters (Danger level is 16.25 meters).

It was known that Hasnapara spur dam of Sariakandi is under threat. A 65 feet Earthen Slope has been sunk there. The vast areas of five unions of this upazila have been flooded. Along with that, erosion has occurred in Ichhamara area under Kamalpur union. Around 4pm on Thursday, more than a hundreds houses were devoured in the river.

Bogura Water Development Board (WDB) sub-divisional engineer Humayan Kabir said, “Hasnapara spur dam is under threat due to the increase of water. 65 feet of soil has been sunk due to soil erosion from the bottom of the spur dam. Geo bags filled with sand are being dropped on that part of the spur on an urgent basis.”

Kamalpur UP chairman Rasduuzzaman Russell said the residents of the area affected by the erosion are being temporarily sheltered in a local madrasa.

Sariakandi acting upazila nirbahi officer Sabuj Kumar Basak said the people affected by the river erosion are being temporarily sheltered in local educational institution and they are being provided with necessary food assistance. The Water Development Board is trying to prevent erosion.

Another day labourer Emdad of the same area said his house was devoured by the river the same day. He and his family members are passing their days in utter despair. They have taken shelter on a road in the area.

More homesteads will go into the river in the next one week if the authorities concerned do not take any initiative to check the erosion.