Two siblings spent 17 days on the branches of a tree as flood water washed away their house at Dhalagaon village in Sunamganj.

The ill-fated siblings are Julekha, 22 and Rakib, 13. The orphans used to live in their ancestral home in Shimulbak union under Shantiganj upazila of the district.

Locals said the siblings' parents passed away many years ago.

On June 17, their only small house made from bamboo, and all their belongings were washed away by the flood water. Seeing no means, the orphans took shelter in the branches of a tree and spent 17 days there.

"Those days were horrific. We spent 17 days on a tree at a stretch which was a nightmare for us. Sometimes we had no food. We have spent the days without enough food and pure drinking water with fear," Julekha said, describing their ordeal.

After 17 days, the siblings took shelter in a building in the village. They have already received Tk 10,000 from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund to repair their house.

Shahinur Rahman Shahin, chairman of Shimulbak union parishad, said hearing the untold suffering of the orphans, he has managed a building for them as shelter and handed over Tk 10,000 on behalf of the prime minister.

"I have provided them with food and daily essentials including rice, lentil, oil and onion. I will construct a new house for the siblings, " he added.

Villagers have urged the affluents to stand by the orphans.