Rising river water levels trigger flooding in Kurigram, submerging fields and homes

UNB, Kurigram :

Continuous heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have caused water levels in 16 rivers, including the Dharla, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra, and Teesta, to rise, leading to widespread flooding across Kurigram.

Floodwaters have submerged vast stretches of low-lying areas and riverbanks, inundating paddy, peanut, and chili fields. Residents are growing increasingly anxious, not only about the rising waters but also the looming threat of riverbank erosion.

As of 9 am Sunday, the Kurigram Water Development Board reported that, while water levels in the Dharla, Brahmaputra, and Dudhkumar rivers remain below the danger mark, the Teesta River at the Kaunia point has surged 33 centimeters above the danger level.

The Teesta’s water levels are expected to begin receding by this evening, said Raqibul Hasan, Executive Engineer of the Kurigram Water Development Board. However, he warned that other rivers in the region are unlikely to fall below danger levels soon.

The flooding has severely affected six unions in the Rajarhat, Ulipur, and Chilmari upazilas, where over a hundred homesteads and rural roads have been submerged along the Teesta’s banks.

Around 500 families are currently stranded by the rising waters, said Khadija Begum, Rajarhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Many residents are in need of immediate assistance.

The agricultural sector has also taken a hit. According to the Kurigram Agricultural Office, more than 300 hectares of Aman paddy and seasonal crops are now underwater. The exact extent of the damage remains unclear, but around 300 hectares of Aman paddy fields have been submerged, confirmed Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension.