Although the flood water has receded somewhat from the villages of Dakshin Maniknagar, North Maniknagar, Khanebari Gobindpur and Jahapur of Kalakandi, Muradnagar upazila of Kalakandi Union of Titas Upazila of Comilla, the suffering of the villagers has not ended. Such a picture was found on the ground this Saturday morning.
Dilbar Nescha, Sufia Begum and Hawa Begum, residents of Dakshina Maniknagar village, said that from last Saturday to today, they have been spending eight consecutive days wearing clothes and eating dry food provided by volunteers at the shelter. Last Saturday, there was ice-cold water in the courtyard of the house. Today the water is above the knees. Entering the residence, they see that everything has been destroyed by the flood water. Poor condition of kitchen, fuel. They are spending their days in the local Haraikandi government primary school shelter by eating dry food for eight consecutive days. It will take more time to get up to the homestead. If the volunteers stop giving food, they will have to go without food for the time being. They could not eat rice for eight consecutive days. The children have been left at the homes of distant relatives.
Farmer Shafiq Molla, a resident of the same village, said that his homestead was washed away in the Gomti river by the strong current of the flood. He took shelter on the embankment of Gomti river with the cows. Now the cows are his last asset.
Fisherman Rezaul Karim, a resident of Khanebari Gobindpur village, said that the fish farms and fish ponds of four villages of Kalakandi union were washed away by the flood water. The fish farmers have become destitute after losing capital of millions of rupees.
Farmer Shahid Ullah Sarkar, a resident of Kalakandi village, said that paddy worth lakhs of rupees planted in the fields of four villages of the union has been submerged in the flood water.
Poultry farmer Abdul Hai, a resident of North Maniknagar village, said that thousands of chickens from at least 10 poultry farms in four villages of the union have died in the flood waters. Farmers have lost capital and become helpless.
Mason Adul Hakim, a resident of Jahapur village of Muradnagar upazila, said that although the flood water has reduced a little, the suffering has not ended, the water in the courtyard of the homestead is still waist-high. Tube wells, toilets are submerged in water. The raw soil of the residence has shifted.