Flooding has worsened in Doulatpur, Kushtia, as Padma river water levels rise rapidly. With new areas being flooded, more than 50,000 people across large parts of Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions have been left marooned. Roads and communication routes have gone underwater, leaving many areas accessible only by boat. Transplanted Aman rice, bananas, chillies and various other crops have been submerged. Initial estimates put the damage at around 350 hectares of farmland.
According to the Water Development Board (WDB), Padma water levels have been rising for the past week due to floodwater flowing down from upstream via the Farakka barrage. At 9am Friday, the water level at the Hardinge Bridge point was recorded at 13.02 metres, against a danger level of 13.80 metres at that point — meaning the water is flowing 78 centimetres below the danger mark. The level at that point stood at 12.88 metres Thursday afternoon, meaning it rose by 14 centimetres in 18 hours.
Water is also rising rapidly at the upazila’s Bhagjot point. At 9am Friday, the water level there stood at 14.90 metres, against a danger level of 15.52 metres. The WDB said water is rising there by an average of 15 to 17 centimetres a day. If this trend continues, conditions in low-lying areas could deteriorate further.
Farmland in Philipnagar, Maricha, Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur has been flooded, damaging transplanted Aman rice, bananas, chillies and various other crops.
Upazila agriculture officer Rehana Parvin said: “Around 350 hectares of farmland in low-lying areas have suffered damage. Agriculture department officials are working in the field to assess the damage. A list of affected farmers will be prepared so they can receive the necessary support and agricultural advice.”
Most roads and communication routes in Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions have gone underwater. In some places, people must wade through knee-deep water or deeper to get around. This has left many areas nearly cut off from the mainland, with children, women and the elderly facing the greatest hardship.
With water entering areas around homes, people are also struggling to manage their livestock, raising fears of a shortage of cattle feed and clean water.
With rising water making it risky for students to travel to school safely, class teaching has been suspended at 16 primary and two secondary schools in Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions. However, the upazila administration has not formally announced the closure of these institutions.
Upazila education officer Mushtaq Ahmed said: “Rising water has created risks for students’ travel and safety. That’s why class teaching has been suspended at 18 schools in the flood-hit area. However, the school buildings will remain open so that people left homeless by the flooding can take shelter there.”
Alongside rising water, riverbank erosion has also begun in several areas, raising concern among people living along the river. Locals say Padma erosion continues in several areas, including Udoynagar in Chilmari union.
Chilmari union parishad chairman Abdul Mannan said: “Floodwater flowing down from upstream has raised Padma water levels, flooding every village and all farmland in the union. Most roads have gone underwater, nearly cutting off the communication system. People are living in miserable conditions, marooned by the water.”
Kushtia Water Development Board executive engineer Asfaudoula said: “Padma water levels have been rising for the past week due to floodwater flowing down from upstream. However, floodwaters are expected to start receding within the next day or two.”
Doulatpur upazila executive officer (UNO) Anindya Guha said: “The upazila administration remains on alert to address the flood situation. We are regularly monitoring the overall situation in the flood-affected area.” He said emergency relief assistance is being arranged in coordination with elected local representatives to help and protect marooned people. Food supplies have already been distributed on a limited scale to helpless and distressed families in Chilmari union.