Matamuhuri River Surges Above Danger Level, Floods 5 Lakh
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoff have pushed the Matamuhuri River in Cox’s Bazar above the danger level, flooding at least five lakh people in Chakaria, Pekua, and Matamuhuri upazilas.
Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahen Deluar confirmed the matter. The river water at the Chiringa Bridge point was flowing 1.21 centimeters above the danger mark around 9 am on Thursday.
According to the Cox’s Bazar Water Development Board (BWDB), the danger level of the Matamuhuri River at the Chiringa point is set at 5.8 meters. At 9 am, the water height there was 6.29 meters.
Executive Engineer Md Nurul Islam of the Cox’s Bazar BWDB said, “The Matamuhuri River has crossed its danger level. The river water is continuously rising.”
Chakaria, Pekua, and Matamuhuri upazilas reported that runoff water has entered 11 unions and one municipality in Chakaria, 7 unions and one municipality in Pekua, and 7 unions in Matamuhuri upazila.
Submerged areas include Boroitoli, Phasiakhali, Koiyarbil, Kakara, Lakshyarchar, Surajpur-Manikpur, Harbang, Khutakhali, Chiringa, and Dulahazara in Chakaria; and the Pekua municipality, Toitong, Magnama, Barbakiya, Rajakhali, and Ujanitya. Additionally, Saharbill, Purbo Boro Veola, Demushia, Veola Manikchar, Pashchim Veola, and Bodarkhali unions of Matamuhuri upazila have been flooded.
Consequently, vehicle movement on rural roads in the three upazilas has stopped, causing extreme suffering for locals, who are also facing a shortage of safe drinking water.
BWDB sources noted that runoff water is entering localities through a breach in the embankment at the Konakhali Puruityakhali point of the Matamuhuri River.
There is a 45-kilometer-long embankment covering Bhangarmukh, Amainyachar, and Namar Chiringa of the municipality, and Puruityakhali and Morongghona areas of Matamuhuri upazila.
Most of these embankments are at risk.
UNO Shahen said two children were killed in a landslide. 20 tons of rice have been allocated for Chakaria upazila and 10 tons for Matamuhuri.
