Flash flood in Padma sees people stranded, educational institutes closed

Following an upstream surge of water coupled with several days of continuous rainfall, the Padma River catches a flood in different areas of Kushtia' Daulatpur upazila.

The local Water Development Board (WDB) says the water level of the Padma has risen by 88 centimetres in the past week. Officials say this is the highest rise recorded in the past three years.

The surge in water levels has now hit the river-surrounded Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia. Vast low-lying areas across nearly 40 villages have been inundated, leaving around 80,000 people waterlogged.

Most roads have gone underwater. In some areas, water has reached household courtyards; in others, it has surrounded homes, while some houses are completely submerged. With regular road communication disrupted, dinghies and small boats have become the main means of transportation for many families.

Floodwater has also entered educational institutions. Considering the safety of students, in-person classes at 25 primary and secondary educational institutions in the two unions have been suspended locally.

However, the school buildings have not been closed. They have been kept open so that people affected by the flooding can take shelter there if necessary.

According to the Water Development Board, the Padma began rising rapidly at the Hardinge Bridge point on 2 September. The river has risen by around 88 centimetres in just one week.

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On Thursday afternoon, the water level at the Hardinge Bridge point was around 92 centimetres below the danger level. The river is currently flowing at around 13 metres, while the danger level is 13.80 metres.

However, as the water level continues to rise, authorities fear the situation could deteriorate further over the next few days. According to the Water Development Board, the water level may continue to rise until Saturday.

Where is the water coming from?

The Water Development Board identifies upstream water flow and excessive rainfall as the main reasons behind the rise in the Padma.

Local residents and elected representatives have also pointed to the arrival of water from upstream.

However, there is another discussion among local residents. They claim that after India opened the gates of the Farakka Barrage, upstream water and rainwater came downstream simultaneously, causing the Padma to rise rapidly.

As a result, water entered the river-adjacent chars and low-lying areas within a short period, worsening the situation.

The Water Development Board, however, has not provided any information confirming that water was released from the Farakka Barrage. Officials maintain that the primary causes of the current rise are the upstream surge and excessive rainfall.

50,000 people stranded in Ramkrishnapur

Siraj Mondal, chairman of Ramkrishnapur union parishad, said around 50,000 people from 20 to 23 villages in his union have been stranded by the floodwaters.

Water has entered many homes. Residents of houses that have been inundated are being transported by boat to relatively safer and higher areas.

He said most roads in the union have gone underwater, leaving dinghies and small boats as the primary means of transportation.

Several houses have been completely flooded, while water has risen around most homes.

Water surrounds homes in Chilmari, almost all roads submerged

Mannan Uddin, chairman of Chilmari Union Parishad, said water has entered homes in the low-lying areas of 17 of the union's 19 villages.

As a result, around 25,000 to 30,000 people have been stranded by the floodwaters.

Almost all roads in the union have already been submerged, leaving virtually the entire union cut off by water. All educational institutions in the union have also been closed.

Mannan Uddin said that given the rate at which the water is rising, many more homes could be inundated within the next day.

He said the union authorities are maintaining regular communication with senior administrative officials regarding the situation.

He added that 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 not been confined to homes and roads; agriculture has also been affected.

According to the Agriculture Office, around 350 hectares of cropland in the two unions have been inundated.

Aman paddy, bananas, chillies and other crops grown on the affected land have been damaged.

Officials concerned fear that agricultural losses could increase if the water level rises further.

Concerns grow over drinking water and cattle feed

For people stranded by the floodwaters, the biggest concerns now are access to safe drinking water, food and cattle feed.

These shortages could become more severe if the water continues to rise.

The upazila administration is regularly monitoring the situation in the affected areas. At the same time, efforts are underway to deliver safe drinking water, food and medical supplies to people trapped by the floodwaters.

Schools closed, buildings kept open

Mushtaq Ahmed, upazila primary education officer, and Faruk Ahmed, upazila secondary education officer (additional charge), said several areas of the char region have been submerged, along with roads and other means of communication.

As a result, local residents have stopped sending students to school, considering their safety.

They said that although in-person classes have been suspended, educational activities are continuing. At the same time, school buildings have been kept available so that people affected by the flooding can take shelter there if necessary.

Water may continue rising until Saturday

Asauddoula, executive engineer of the Kushtia Water Development Board, said the Padma has risen due to water flowing downstream from upstream areas and excessive rainfall.

He said the low-lying areas of Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari in Daulatpur are inundated every year.

The river is currently flowing at around 13 metres, while the danger level is 13.80 metres. The water level is likely to continue rising until Saturday, he said.

The Water Development Board and the upazila administration are closely monitoring the situation.

However, local elected representatives fear that if the Padma rises further, both the number of people affected and the extent of damage could increase.