Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Oct 8, 2025 (BSS) - A tidal surge caused a 150-foot breach in the Water Development Board's (WDB) embankment at Botbunia in Tildanga Union under Dakop upazila of the district on Tuesday night, leaving nearly a thousand families marooned and submerging vast areas of cropland and fish enclosures.

Several thousand hectares of transplanted Aman paddy fields were inundated and fish worth several lakh taka washed away following the collapse.

Locals said around 150 feet of the WDB embankment on the bank of the Dhaki River gave way late Tuesday night amid strong tidal pressure during the new moon.

Union Parishad Chairman Md. Jalal Uddin Gazi said the embankment breach occurred around midnight, inundating large parts of the area. Early Wednesday, local residents attempted to plug the breach using sand-filled geo-tubes, but the effort was unsuccessful as the noon tide again flooded the locality.

WDB Executive Engineer Ashraful Alam told BSS that the repair work had to be suspended temporarily due to the rising tide. However, he expressed hope that the damaged portion of the embankment would be sealed before the next high tide.

Local WDB officials and public representatives are continuing efforts to restore the embankment and prevent further damage.