‘Now there is nothing left, everything was swept away by the water’
UNB
Publish: 29 Aug 2024, 11:26 AM
Feni,
Aug 29 (UNB) -Hasina Akter couldn't bring anything except her clothes she was
wearing when the floodwater within few hours inundated her village.
"Now there is
nothing left. Everything was swept away by the water. The house and all our
belongings have been damaged. The damage is beyond compensation."
Hasina Akter, a resident
Alamapur village in Sonagazi upazila of Feni district, narrated her anguishes
after losing all her belongings.
Hasina is among the many
who have been devastated by the floods.
The recent floods in
Feni district have wreaked unprecedented havoc, leaving thousands of residents
in dire straits. The catastrophic floods, caused by continuous rain and hill
runoff from India, have swept away homes, livestock, and livelihoods, leaving
communities grappling with extensive damage and loss.
In GM Hat village,
farmer Abu Mia recounts the relentless waves of destruction.
"The first flood
left two feet of water inside our home. As soon as we moved, the second flood
hit, and now the third wave has destroyed everything. The back wall of our
house collapsed, and with two feet of water still in the rice fields, I feel
helpless and lost."
The situation in
Satkuchia village is similarly grim. Kalu Saha described the ruin of his home,
"Everything is gone. The house, including the furniture, has sunk. The
damage is overwhelming."
In Parshuram Bazaar,
Rafiq Chowdhury reported that all 60 ponds in the area have been affected, with
damage estimated at over Tk 5 core.
Residents are struggling
for basic necessities.
Rubel from Madhugram is
devastated after losing his CNG vehicle, which was his last asset. "The
vehicle is ruined, and the installments are still not paid. With seven family
members, I don't know how we will manage or survive."
In Sonagazi, the
aftermath of the floods revealed a scene of widespread destruction on Tuesday.
Roofs have been blown off, and the surrounding fences and mud walls of many
homes have collapsed. Ponds and fish enclosures have been submerged, causing
extensive loss in aquaculture.
Char Chandia faces a
severe shortage of clean drinking water as tube wells have been destroyed.
Roads and paths are in
ruins, making transportation difficult. Many families are left without basic
necessities, including food and clean water. The destruction extends to homes,
livestock, and agricultural land.
Almamun from Char
Sahabikari village struggles to salvage what he can from his waterlogged home.
"In the blink of an eye, everything has vanished. Homes, farms, and
roads-nothing has been spared. We are now seeking refuge in shelters."
Delwar Hossain, who ran
a poultry farm in Alampur, faces a staggering loss. The flood drowned about
11,000 chickens, resulting in an estimated loss of Tk 28 lakh.
He now finds himself
destitute, having lost his investment and livelihood.
The affected areas
include the border regions of Parshuram, Sonagazi, and Fulgazi, as well as
parts of Feni Sadar Upazila.
The full extent of the
damage is still being assessed by government agencies.
Deputy Commissioner
Shahina Akter said that approximately 11.5 lakh people in Feni have been
affected, with 10 lakh suffering significant disaster-related damage.
The district
administration, along with various departments, is working to assess the damage
and coordinate relief efforts for those affected by this unprecedented
disaster, she said.
End/UNB/Corr/MB/FH