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Sirajganj Town Exposed to Fresh Danger

Another 200 metres of embankment collapse

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj
Another 200 metres of the Sirajganj town protection embankment collapsed in the Jamuna yesterday afternoon, for the second time in a week, near the previously damaged portion, forcing locals to shift to safer places
Thousands of locals and workers of Water Development Board started piling up sand bags, bricks, concrete blocks and other materials in the part immediately after the collapse, but their attempts went in vain because of strong current.
Panic gripped the locals following the incident and they now believe that the area of the embankment has become
vulnerable to erosion, exposing Sirajganj town to severe flooding.
They said some parts of the road beside the embankment have already eroded into the river. They feared water from the river will enter the localities if effective measures to protect the embankment are not taken immediately.
Officials ofWater Development Board and locals said the portion of the embankment at Goyla shashan ghat (crematorium), some 100m near the previously damaged area, started collapsing around 2:00pm
About 500 WDB workers, who had been working in the already damaged portion, rushed to the place and started
placing sand bags and concrete blocks to prevent flooding.
Thousands of people from across the town gathered and joined the protection endeavour. Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police and the army who had also been working on the damaged embankment also joined them.
They continued the effort at 8:00pm while erosion was also continuing.
Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir and Superintendent of Police Alamgir Rahman visited the spot.
Locals alleged that the WDB officials could not say anything about the reasons behind the sudden collapse. They said they have no more faith in the local administration, which earlier claimed that the embankment is not vulnerable to erosion. A large portion of the embankment eroded within seven days although the river was flowing below the danger level, they said.
Faults in the design and construction of the embankment and lack of monitoring by the WDB are the main reasons behind the erosion, the locals said.
Talking to The Daily Star, Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir said the 2.5km town protection embankment is totally vulnerable to erosion.
"The embankment will erode away into the river totally if it is not repaired before the rainy season," he said, urging the authorities to take necessary measures immediately
Seeking anonymity, a WDB official told The Daily Star that the erosion might be aggravating further.
WDB Executive Engineer Nizamul Huq Bhuian, however. expressed hope about bringing the situation under control within a few hours.
He said there is nothing to fear as they have all kinds of logistic support to face any worse situation and their workers are prepared to protect the area from any kind of disaster.
On July 10, around 200m of the embankment collapsed into the Jamuna following onrush of water from upstream. A 10-member team of divers examined the causes of the collapse.
About 500 houses. 200 acres of cropland and many establishments were devoured by the Jamuna in the last couple of days, local sources said.