62.5 acres of boro paddy submerges in Hakaluki haor floods

Heavy rains and water from upstream hills have submerged nearly 62.5 acres of semi-ripe Boro paddy in two beels of Hakaluki Haor in Kulaura Upazila, Moulvibazar. In addition, crops in two other nearby beels are also at risk.

Farmers are worried about their crops in the current situation. The affected farmers reported that heavy rain continued for several hours on Friday night. In addition, the Juri, Kanthinala, Gogalichhara, and Fanai rivers connected to the haor have also flooded. Water from the upstream hill slopes has entered the area.

Water began entering the Ugla and Hasirdb beels of the haor on Saturday morning. By noon, the paddy fields of the two beels were submerged.

Mohammad Hafez, a resident of Maheshgauri village of Bhukshimail Union, said on social media that the beels are completely underwater and that all the paddy fields have been submerged.

In the video, many semi-ripe paddy plants under water can be seen being cut and brought back. He added that due to rising water, the crops in nearby Medha and Changua Beels, covering about 200 bighas of Boro rice, are also at risk. He urged farmers to use spades and shovels to build high earthen embankments around the two beels to protect the crops.

Amjad Ali, a farmer from Maheshgauri village, said that his eight bighas of paddy land are now under water. He warned that if the water does not recede quickly, the paddy may rot.

Kulaura Upazila Agriculture Officer Muhammad Jasim Uddin said that this year, 8,704 hectares of land in various low-lying areas, including Hakaluki Haor, have been planted with Boro rice.

Heavy rains and upstream floods can cause water to enter the haor area, but if weather conditions improve, the water will recede quickly and the crops will not be heavily damaged.

He added that authorities are monitoring the situation.