A 40-metre section of a Water Development Board embankment collapsed into the Dhaki River near Botbunia Bazar in Dacope upazila of Khulna on Sunday night, flooding several areas.

The embankment gave way around 8:00 pm under pressure from the rising tide, leaving 15 families severely affected.

During the subsequent low tide, the Water Development Board temporarily stopped tidal water from entering the area by placing sand-filled geo-bag tubes at the affected site.

Several families have suffered heavy losses, with some losing their homes to river erosion. Others have started dismantling their houses and moving their belongings to the nearby embankment for safety.

The affected families are now taking shelter in the open, facing severe hardship and food shortages.

Among those affected are Zadubar Sardar, Niranjan Sardar, Krishnapada Sardar, Prashanta Sardar, Pradip Sardar, Ajit Sardar, Lokesh Sardar, Gopal Sardar, Gobinda Sardar, Shekhar Sardar, Paritosh Sardar, Suryakanta Sardar and Nilu Sardar.

The residents said cracks appeared in the embankment before it suddenly collapsed into the river, allowing tidal water to inundate a large area.

Tildanga Union Parishad Chairman Jalal Uddin Gazi said the flow of tidal water had been temporarily stopped using sand-filled geo-bag tubes at the breach site.

However, the area remained at serious risk, as the embankment could collapse again at any time, he said, adding that efforts to reinforce it were continuing.

Madhusudan Pal, sub-divisional engineer of the Water Development Board, said work was under way to stabilise the erosion-affected section through block dumping and the placement of sand-filled geo-bag tubes.