Heavy rain submerges boro fields in Moulvibazar haor areas

Hundreds of acres of farmers’ golden Boro paddy in Hakaluki Haor have been submerged due to torrential rainfall in Moulvibazar district.

Moulvibazar Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Khaled Bin Oled said that although the water level of the Dhalai River in Kamalganj has risen, it remains one and a half feet below the danger level. The river is being closely monitored around the clock.

Additionally, extensive damage has been reported to crops, fish farms, and infrastructure. This situation has developed following continuous heavy rain that began Monday night and runoff from upstream areas.

Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asaduzzaman said that some paddy fields in Keola Haor were submerged due to storms and rain.

“Although power lines were damaged, trees uprooted, and roads disrupted, communication was restored after repairs.”

According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, Boro paddy was cultivated on about 5,000 hectares of land this season.

Of this, 70 hectares have been completely submerged and 350 hectares partially submerged due to rainfall and flooding. Updated information on vegetable crop damage is not yet available.

Kamalganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Jayanta Kumar Roy said that, until Tuesday afternoon, 70 hectares of Boro paddy were fully submerged and 350 hectares partially submerged due to rainfall and hilly runoff.

In Kulaura Upazila, the Gogalichhara dam collapsed, flooding large areas of Sadar and Joychandi unions. Flooded villages include Bagajura, Hasanpur, Sreepur, Korergram, Minarmahal, Syedpur, Gazipur, Purandapur, Haripur, and Barakapan in Sadar Union, and Danapur, Kamarkandi, and Lamagaon in Joychandi Union. Around 100 bighas of land have been submerged.

Aman and Boro rice fields, Aush seedbeds, and hundreds of ponds have been flooded, resulting in fish losses.

Shahidul Islam, acting chairman of Kulaura Sadar Union, said several villages were inundated after the dam breach, causing damage to fish farms, Boro rice, and Aush seedbeds.

Kulaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mohi Uddin visited the affected areas and said water has entered 10-15 locations due to hillside runoff, submerging several roads. People trapped in the flash flood are facing severe hardship. The government has distributed 10 kg of rice each to more than 150 affected families.

In Kamalganj Upazila, continuous rain and landslides over the past two days have submerged low-lying Boro paddy and vegetable fields. Farmers are distressed as crops in areas including Keolar Haor in Patanushar Union have gone underwater. This situation was observed until Tuesday morning.

In addition, Boro paddy and vegetable fields in Munshibazar and Shamshernagar unions have also been submerged.

Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel said that 100 metric tons of rice and Tk 3,60,000 in cash have already been allocated for the district’s seven upazilas. Boro paddy was cultivated on 27,350 hectares in haor areas and 35,045 hectares in non-haor areas across the district.

So far, harvesting has been completed on 22,490 hectares in haor areas and 7,649 hectares in non-haor areas.

He added that the district currently has 321 tons of GR rice and Tk 6,45,000 in cash reserves for flood and disaster response, along with 163 bundles of corrugated iron sheets and Tk 4,87,000 for housing support.

Additionally, a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief requesting 500 metric tons of rice, Tk 20 lakh in cash, 1,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets, and Tk 30 lakh for housing assistance.

Meanwhile, a severe Kalbaishakhi storm hit Barlekha Upazila, uprooting large trees across roads, houses, and power lines.

Trees were also uprooted on sections of the Kulaura-Chandgram regional highway. Thousands of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road after trees fell between the Ratuli-Kathaltoli sections. Fire service personnel worked for about an hour to clear the road.

In various areas of the upazila, thousands of trees fell on houses, roads, and power lines, causing widespread damage. More than 300 homes were damaged in North Shahbazpur, South Shahbazpur, South South, Talimpur, and Barlekha Sadar unions.