Noakhali's island Upazila of Hatia has been inundated by tidal water in the lower areas of Nijhumdwip. The abnormal tide caused by the full moon has flooded the main roads of wards 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Nijhumdwip Union, as a result of which the communication system is closed. Water has submerged houses in low-lying areas. As there is no embankment, Nizhumdwip is easily flooded by tidal water.
It has been reported that the Bandartila Ghat-Namarbazar main road in Nijhumdwip has been submerged under 3 feet of water due to the inundation of tidal water on Sunday afternoon. As a result, the vehicles plying on that road have been stopped. Many people are traveling from one end of Nizhumdwip to the other end of Nizhumdwip by taking risks on foot.
For the past two days every day between 12 noon and 12:30 noon due to the abnormal tide of Meghna river, water started sinking in every area of Nizhumdwip. In the afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock the water started receding again. At high tide the lowlands are submerged 3 to 5 feet under water.
Locals say that since there is no embankment around Nijhumdwip, most of the wards of Nijhumdwip get flooded when the tide is a little higher than normal. As tidal water flowed over most of the major roads in the union, various parts of the roads were broken. After the tidal water recedes, potholes form on the road.
Nurul Afchar Dinaj, Chairman of Nizhumdwip Union, confirmed the matter and said that about 40,000 people live in Nizhumdwip. The Union has no embankment even close to the sea. As a result, water enters the union from all sides at the time of tide. At least 50 small and big fish farms were swept away by the two-day tide. Damaged houses, many houses have collapsed due to tidal water. People in low lying areas are having a tough time. The matter has been informed to the concerned officials including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer.
Hatia upazila executive officer. Salim Hossain said that some villages in the lower areas of Hatiya including Nizhumdwip have been flooded by tidal water. Nijhumdwip chairman has been asked to list the people and roads affected by water. The affected areas will be dealt with once the effect of the full moon tide has subsided.
