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Cries of despair as rampaging Padma devours villages in Munshiganj

Once brimming with life, dozens of homes in Shambhu Halderkandi and Sardarkandi villages have been swallowed by the mighty river as helpless families stare into the abyss

Mahmud Zaman Ovi

bdnews24.com

Published : 16 Sep 2022, 03:03 PM

Updated : 16 Sep 2022, 03:03 PM

At least 300 families in Shambhu Halderkandi and Sardarkandi villages in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union lost their homes to the Padma River as its water has continued to wear away at its banks for over a month. Residents have been forced to live under the open sky or move to their relatives’ houses in other villages.

Shambhu Halderkandi and Sardarkandi villages in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union are gradually disappearing as the banks of the mighty Padma have continued to erode for over a month. According to locals, the erosion has intensified over the last ten days.

At least 250 families in Shambhu Halderkandi village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union have seen their homes devoured by the Padma over the past month.

Only two days ago, a temple devoted to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva stood on this piece of land in Shambhu Halderkandi village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union. The temple was devoured by strong river currents during low tide at night, leaving behind an altar for the sacred tulsi plant as its last vestige.

The Padma River has been eroding its banks for over a month. Residents of Shambhu Halderkandi and Sardarkandi villages in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union hold a vigil seeking protection for their lives and belongings.

Nitai Majhi, a resident of Shambhu Halderkandi village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union, sits near an altar for the tulsi plant, the last remnant of a Shiva temple that was washed away by the mighty Padma. He used to perform nightly rituals at the temple.

Residents of Sardarkandi village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union hurriedly moved their belongings away before the rampaging Padma could devour them. Many of them cut down the trees surrounding their houses to protect them from erosion.

A woman and her daughter from the erosion-prone Sardarkandi village in Munshiganj’s Banglabazar Union look forlornly in the direction of their home which was devoured by the Padma River.

The Padma used to flow a fair distance away from a house that stood on this part of Shambhu Halderkandi village in Munshiganj Sadar Upazila’s Banglabazar Union. But the river gobbled up the house.

Jogmaya Rani, a resident of Shambhu Halderkandi village, lived in a house with 22 members of her family. She broke down in tears after losing the house to the rampaging Padma River.

Two villages in Munshiganj's Banglabazar have been under increasing risk from river erosion for more than a month. The Bangladesh Water Development Board is taking steps to shore up the riverbanks, using sandbags.

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