11 people on the roof for 3 days with one liter of water
Communication system with Shikarpur village of Comilla’s Burichong upazila has been severed. Two lakh people of Burichong upazila have been trapped in water after the dam broke.
“My family has been trapped for three days. My brother and 10 family members are stuck there. There is only one liter of water. We could not rescue them even in three days. Nazmul Hossain, son of Ali Ashraf of Shikarpur village of Comilla’s Burichong upazila, told how his family was trapped.
Nazmul said that he was able to communicate with the family members until Saturday morning, his brother Md. from last Thursday night. Litton, along with his parents and 10 family members are on the roof of their three-storey house. The water did not rise till then. However, the communication has been cut off as the mobile phone is switched off.
Nazmul said, “Shikarpur, where our house is, there is no communication system at all.”
Flood water started entering the locality after Gomtir dam collapsed in Burburi area of Burichong on Thursday night. At that time, Nazmul rushed from the house to rescue the people. But he could not go back. He said, ‘I am rescuing people, but I cannot rescue my family. No boat or speedboat is going towards Shikarpur. It is difficult to go due to the current in that direction. I’m trying to get there.’
Two lakh people of Burichong upazila have been trapped in the water due to the breaking of the dam. Many people in flash flood affected areas could not go to shelters. Many of them have taken up residence on the roof of the house. Many people stayed at home in freezing water. Even though they are homesick, now there is a lack of safe haven.
There is a shortage of boats and food and water. The same situation prevailed in Burichong upazila’s Bharsar, Ichapura and Kharataia on Saturday. Rehana Begum, a resident of Kharataia village, said that she is staying with her relatives in a shelter. He said that many people in the village have taken shelter on the roofs of various buildings. Among them are sick and elderly people. Boats will be needed to rescue them.
On inquiry, it is known that a lot of help has reached the Comilla-Burichong road. But those who took the microbus had to return. Because knee-deep water has accumulated at various places on the road. There is a strong current of water. It is not possible to walk normally. Those who have reached the main road with tractors and pickup vans are distributing relief. People carrying boats in pickup vans are able to rescue people from the village.