Rising river waters triggered by upstream hill runoff, days of heavy rain and abnormal tidal surges have flooded low-lying areas in Cumilla, Khagrachari, Habiganj and Noakhali’s Hatiya, damaging crops, cutting off road links and leaving thousands of families facing hardship.
Gomti floodwaters submerge farmlands
Upstream hill runoff has pushed up water levels in the Gomti River in Cumilla, inundating large swathes of char land and damaging early-season vegetables and other crops cultivated by more than a thousand farmers.
In Burichang Upazila, fields in Balikhara, Bhanti and Kamarkhara areas were seen under water on Thursday morning. Vegetables were floating on the surface, while farmers waded through waist-deep water in a desperate attempt to salvage whatever they could.
Abdul Haque, a farmer from Bhanti, said he had invested nearly Tk3 lakh in early radish and bottle gourd cultivation. But the sudden rise in the Gomti River flooded his entire field.
Another farmer, Abdul Jalil, said his fields of stem amaranth, Malabar spinach and ash gourd had been washed away. Farmers in Bhanti, Kamarkhara, Balikhara and nearby areas said at least several hundred growers had suffered extensive losses.
Sohel Mia, another farmer, said they were being forced to harvest immature bottle gourd, snake gourd, stem amaranth, ash gourd and radish before the crops were completely destroyed. Farmers said they were trying to sell whatever could be recovered to reduce their losses, but feared crop damage worth lakhs of taka.
Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Cumilla, said vast areas of char land had gone under water following the rise in the Gomti River due to upstream runoff. He said agriculture officials were visiting the affected areas and speaking to farmers. Necessary support measures would be taken after an assessment of the damage, he added.
Floodwaters isolate Sajek
In Khagrachhari, flood-related suffering continued despite a slight fall in the water level of the Chengi River after rainfall eased at night. However, the Maini River continued to swell, worsening the situation in some areas.
Although waterlogging has improved slightly in parts of the district town, several low-lying areas, including Betchhari Marmapara, Bichitola, Larmapara and parts of Battala, remain inundated.
Road communication has yet to return to normal even after two days. As roads in Kabakhali and Merung areas of Dighinala Upazila remain under water, vehicular movement on the Dighinala-Langadu, Dighinala-Baghaichhari and Dighinala-Sajek roads remains completely suspended.
As a result, road communication with Sajek has been cut off, leaving more than 400 tourists stranded at the popular tourist destination.
Vehicular movement on the Khagrachhari-Rangamati road has also remained suspended since Wednesday night after heavy rain and hill runoff flooded the road at Maischhari Kalopahar Jamtali area in Mohalchari Upazila.
Low-lying areas of the district have remained waterlogged for the fourth consecutive day due to intermittent rain and hill runoff over the past several days. The district administration has opened 135 shelters amid fears of flooding and landslides. Some families have already taken shelter in centres in Dighinala.
Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner Anwar Sadat urged people at risk of flooding and landslides to move to shelters. He said food was being distributed among those taking refuge there. Around 2,500 families in different upazilas have received food assistance, while supplies are also being sent to waterlogged families after information is received.
Rivers cross danger marks in Habiganj
In Habiganj, river waters have continued to rise following two days of continuous rain and upstream hill runoff. The Khowai and Kushiyara rivers have already crossed the danger mark, while a breach has appeared in an embankment.
According to the Water Development Board, the Khowai River was flowing 220 centimetres above the danger level at Balla point in Chunarughat Upazila and 215 centimetres above the danger level at the Machhulia point in Habiganj town at noon on Thursday.
The Kushiyara River was flowing 42 centimetres above the danger level at Ajmiriganj point.
Water from the Khowai River has entered the haor after the Rampur embankment in Baniachong was breached. Water levels are also rising in the Sutang, Karangi and Sonai rivers, creating panic among people living along riverbanks and in haor areas amid fears of flash floods.
Tidal surges flood Hatia
Meanwhile, in Hatia, the island upazila of Noakhali, several days of heavy rain and abnormal tidal surges have flooded vast areas, severely disrupting life in coastal communities.
Local residents said crop fields, fish enclosures and thatched houses had suffered extensive damage due to rainwater and tidal surges. Farmers fear major losses in cultivation.
In response to the situation, Hatia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rasel Iqbal has distributed food assistance among 5,000 families in 11 unions of the upazila.
