A flood protection embankment along the River Bhairab at Bhadrapara in Bagerhat sadar upazila was washed away by the tidal surges on Friday, rending 300 families of three villages trapped.

A vast portion of Bhadrapara, Boitpur and Bemorta villages have been flooded with fish of 20-25 enclosures washed away.

The residents of the three villages demanded immediate steps to repair the collapsed embankment.

Mashiur Rahman Badsha, owner of a fish enclosure at village Bhadrapara, said when the flood protection embankment collapsed in the afternoon water entered his fish enclosure and washed away all fish, causing him a loss of Tk 10 lakh.

Alamgir Hossain, a resident of the village said, ‘We have been suffering amid the knee-deep water in the houses. Even we could not cook properly as the yards of the houses were submerged.’

Md Masum Billah, executive engineer of local Water Development Board, said Dartana and Bhairab rivers were flowing 12 cm above their danger marks while the water level of different canals and water bodies also increased.

‘We were informed that low-lying areas of different villages have been flooded and steps will be taken to build ring dam after the recession of the tidal water.