Nearly 50,000 people have been marooned in several villages of Ramkrishnapur and Chilmari unions in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia after the Padma River overflowed following continuous rainfall.
Floodwaters entered residential areas on Thursday, submerging houses, roads and low-lying areas. In response to the worsening situation, the upazila administration has suspended academic activities at 18 educational institutions in the two unions until further notice.
Severe riverbank erosion has also hit parts of Chilmari union, including Udaynagar, Atarpara and Digrirchar, where houses, cropland, electric poles and connecting roads have been washed away into the river.
The rising water has triggered panic over venomous snakes as they are coming out of submerged bushes, holes and low-lying areas in search of dry shelter. Local residents said they were worried about the safety of children and livestock, with many avoiding movement at night due to the risk of snakebites on flooded paths.
According to official water level data, the Padma River was flowing at 12.98 metres at the Hardinge Bridge point on Thursday, up by 8cm from 12.90 metres recorded a day earlier.
Water Development Board officials said the river level has been rising every day, increasing by a total of 37cm over the past three days. The rising water had already inundated 37 char villages in Daulatpur.
Strong river currents have also disrupted ferry services on the neighbouring Pabna-Rajbari waterway.
Local resident Suman said sudden flooding had surrounded homes and made movement difficult.
Another resident, Mozam, said river erosion had become a recurring threat and urged the authorities to take immediate measures. Affected residents also expressed concerns over shortages of food and safe drinking water if the situation continues.
Chilmari Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Mannan said water from upstream had entered low-lying homes in 17 of the union’s 19 villages over the past two to three days.
He said around 30,000 people had been affected, while school activities were suspended and the risk of snake attacks had increased.
Ramkrishnapur Union Parishad Chairman Siraj Mandal said floodwaters had surrounded all villages in the union, submerging roads and reaching the foundations of many houses.
Daulatpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Anindya Guha said relief assistance had already been provided to 300 affected families.
He said the administration was closely monitoring the situation and would provide all necessary support to flood-hit communities.
