Over a hundred villages flooded in Cumilla as Gumti dam breaks
As of 9am this morning, reports indicate that over a hundred villages in Burichang and Brahmanpara have been submerged.
Hundreds of villages in Cumilla became inundated as the dam on the Gumti river broke during the early hours today (23 August).
Water started entering the localities through a small hole in the dam at the Burburia area of Cumilla's Burichang upazila around midnight yesterday. Within a short time, the hole expanded significantly, and water started flooding Burichang.
As of 9am this morning, reports indicate that over a hundred villages in Burichang and Brahmanpara have been submerged.
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Meanwhile, announcements are being made on loudspeakers in mosques, urging people to move to safe locations.
Since yesterday morning, thousands of volunteers have been working to relocate people to safety and protect the dam.
However, the water level in the Gumti River continued to rise despite no rain since 9am yesterday.
At 7am, the river was flowing 70 centimetres above the danger level, and by 11pm, it had reached 136 centimetres above the danger level.
"The water flowed over the dam in the Buriburia section of Sholanal Union in Burichang Upazila. The strong currents have severely damaged the dam, and the situation is extremely critical. Most areas of the upazila are now submerged," said Burichang Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahida Akhter.
The strong currents of the Gumti River have also flooded parts of Adarsha Sadar, Muradnagar, and Debidwar.
