Rangpur, Sept. 16 -- At least 386 houses have been washed away by severe erosion along the Teesta River in five northern districts over the past seven days, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

The erosion has intensified at 113 points in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Kurigram, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).

Ahsan Habib, superintending engineer of the BWDB Rangpur regional office, said the situation has worsened rapidly in recent days.

"Erosion has intensified at 113 points in the five districts while 386 houses have been washed away in the past seven days," he said.

He said there was insufficient allocation for erosion-control measures and the matter has been brought to the ministry's ...