More than 5,000 people at six villages in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila has become homeless in the last five days due to erosion by the River Darla. At least 120 dwelling houses, a mosque, a temple and a vast track of crop lands were eroded during the period. The erosion-hit villages are Badaitari, Mogholhat, Kurul, Megharam, Bongram and Itapota. The affected people have taken shelter on different roads, embankments and on the high lands. Many villagers are passing days with grave anxiety as the river is rapidly eroding houses and crop fields, local people said. Mogholhat union parishad complex, BDR camp and some government establishments in the upazila were also facing threat of river erosion. The union parishad chairman, Habibur Rahman, said the erosion had intensified following torrential rain and onrush of water from the upper stream area of neighbouring India.