GAIBANDHA. July 6 : Flood situation in the district continued to deteriorate following onrush of water from upper catchment through main rivers Teesta and Brahmaputra within the course of last three days.

Total 18 unions of the district are now under the grip of flood water. Most affected thana are Fulchari. Shaghata, Gaibandha'sadar and Sunderganj where ovef 30,000 people are said to be marooned in different charlands along Teesta and Brahmaputra b'asin.

The river Teesta and Brahmaputra and other tributaries like Karotoa. Ghagot, Manash. Alai, Bangali. Akhira and Naleya in the district are in ^pate and the water level continued to rise at all points. Vast tract of cultivable land and dwelling houses went under water.

Road communication of the affected villages were snapped

as the portion ol kactha roads at different locations were washed away by the whirling water.

-The marooned people of charlands have been shifting their valuables to safe places on abandoned' embankments or nearby high lands.

in the meantime, with the rapid rise in water level erosion of river Teesta and Brahmaputra intensified along the western bank. Meanwhile, nearly 450 families lost their shelters within the course of last five days as everyday large chunk of crop lands, trees, bamboo grove, structure of dwelling houses are being devoured by the erosion of river.

The location where erosion affected seriously are G<4>inda-pur. Haldia. under Shaghata thana. Urta. Fulchari sadar. Fazlupur, Arendabari, Kanchlbari under Fulchari thana. Dhutlchora. Rasoolpur

under sadar thana and Kapasia, Chandlpur. Belka under Sunderganj thana.

One primary school at Chowmohoni under Fulchari thana went into the river Brahmaputra after the erosion hit the areas. A carpenter. Sai-ful Islam received serious chest injuries after one heavy wooden beam fel) upon him at Chowmohoni primary school when he was removing struc-lure from erosion point.

Last year. Flood Action Plan (FAP) authorities constructed six groynes along the western bank of river Brahmaputra at Rasoolppr under Gaibandha sadar thana with a view to divert main force of water toward eastern tributary. During the last flood main embankment of the FAP project was washed away by the surging water and one of the groynes was also badly damaged. This year the erosion engulfed more areas of the project area.