Heavy rain floods Dighinala lowlands, cuts off Langadu road links

Several hours of heavy rain have inundated low-lying areas of Dighinala in Khagrachhari again, with water flowing over the Dighinala-Merung road and cutting Langadu’s road link with the rest of the country.

A total of 89 millimetres of rain was recorded in Dighinala from midnight on Saturday until the morning, said Subhuti Chakma of the Dighinala weather observation centre.

Several spells of rain through the night caused the Maini River and nearby hill streams and canals to swell.

The Maini subsequently rose above its danger level.

Low-lying areas of Merung, Kabakhali and Boalkhali went under water, with floodwater entering homes in some places.

Aman paddy fields and summer vegetable plots were also submerged.

With road transport between Langadu and the rest of the country suspended, residents have been using small boats to cross the flooded sections.

Shanti Paribahan night coaches travelling from Dhaka to Langadu were stranded in the Merung Sadar area.

Passengers have been crossing the submerged stretch of road by local boats.

“We left Dhaka for Langadu last night. When we got here, we found the road under water and traffic at a standstill. We now have to take our belongings across by boat. Everyone on the bus has to do the same,” resident Mobarak Hossain said.

Merung resident Mohammad Rokon Mia said the area had been flooded once last week and again on Saturday.

“Merung has been flooded three times in the past two months. Our homes as well as our crop fields have gone under water,” he said.

Farmer Subimal Chakma of Madhya Boalkhali said his Aman paddy field was flooded again early on Saturday, just days after he finished planting seedlings.

“I only finished planting the seedlings last Monday. How will farmers survive? The area was flooded once in July and twice this month,” he said.

Dighinala Upazila administrator Md Tanzil Parvez said seven families had taken shelter at Pablakhali Government Primary School.

“A fresh allocation will be made to support them. We have not received it yet, but it will be distributed as soon as it arrives,” he said.