15,000ha Cropland Flooded in Kurigram

During the fifth phase of flooding caused by the onrush of upstream water and heavy downpours, about 15,000 hectares of cropland went under water in nine Kurigram Upazilas.

The amount of damage incurred by farmers was not immediately clear.

Large-scale crop destruction may potentially cause a local market shortage and trigger a price increase, reports UNB.

"The damage to crops could increase further," said Shamsuddin Mia, acting deputy director of the Agriculture Extension Department (DAE) of Kurigram.

He said that it would take about a week for them to estimate the loss.

Mia said, "In the district, a total of 15,000 hectares of cropland containing Ropa Aman, peanuts, vegetables, among others, went under water."

60,000 people marooned

Meanwhile, road communication has been snapped in many parts of Kurigram.

A number of char zones were flooded, marooning 60,000 individuals, including Kurigram Sadar Upazila, Rajarhat Upazila, Phulbari Upazila and Ulipur Upazilas.

People took shelter in some areas with their livestock on high roads and embankments.

Moreover, the strong current of the Dharla River washed away a number of homes, while erosion took a severe turn in many areas, placing at risk buildings, educational institutions, roads and flood protection dams.

Moinuddin Bhola, a member of the UP Jatrapur Union in Sadar Upazila, said the authorities did not take any action, even after at least 10 houses in the village of Garuhara were devoured by the river.

Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said Dharla was flowing 28cm above its danger level in the morning. Sixteen rivers in the district are flowing beneath the danger mark.

At 20 points in the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta rivers, erosion took a severe turn and work is underway to protect the river banks, "said Islam."

In the last couple of days, Flood did not show any sign of change. 12MT rice and 2,000 packets of dry food were distributed among the flood-hit individuals, the Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation office said.