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Sirajganj embankment collapses

Thousands trying hard to repair the damage

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj
Around 200 metres of Sirajganj town protection embankment went into the gorge of river Jamuna yesterday due to onrush of water from upstream, threatening the town.
Witnesses said river erosion took a serious turn at Swashanghat point in the morning and the portion of the embankment on the western bank of the river collapsed within moments.
Fearing danger, people living near the embankment started running to and fro following the embankment collapse.
People immediately brought out a procession and went to the office ofWater Development Board (WDB) to protest at the sudden collapse. They blamed irregu-
larities by a section of WDB officials for the incident.
Hearing the news, WDB officials including Executive Engineer Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan went there and started work to protect the remaining portion of the embankment from erosion. But their attempt went in vain because of strong current in the river.
Thousands of people from the town later joined hands with WDB men and placed sand bags, bricks, stones, blocks and other materials at the point of erosion to protect the remaining portion of embankment from erosion. Officials of the district administration and members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police, fire fighters and the army also joined the work
People living near the erosion area shifted their houses and other belongings to a safer place fearing further erosion.
Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir, Police Super Mosharraf Hpssain, higher officials of Rab and the army visited the spot and asked their men to work for protecting the town from the sudden disaster.
Leaders and activists of different political parties also went there and joined hands with the people.
While contacted, DC Humayun Kabir said they are not free from the risk though the situation has improved a little. He however said that WDB officials did not inform him about any possibility of danger.
Erosion also takes a serious turn in five upazilas of the district with the swelling of Jamuna water. However, the river was flowing below danger level at Sirajganj town point yesterday.
Meanwhile, about 500 houses, 200 acres of cropland and many establishments were devoured by the river Jamuna in last couple of days, sources said.