As many as 2 lakh people of 40 villages in Moulvibazar district have been stranded as the onrush of water from upstream in the Dhalai River, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall and upstream runoff, breached several embankments at Kamolganj upazila in the district on Wednesday.
The river is currently flowing 26 cm above the danger level, leading to breaches in the protective embankments at Chaitanyganj in Kamalganj Sadar union and Khushalpur village in Munshibazar union of the upazila. The breaches have resulted in widespread flooding, with approximately 40 villages now underwater.
The rising water has inundated key roads, including the Kamolganj-Moulvibazar road near Chhaikuta and the Kathalkandi-Adhakani road in Adampur Union.
In addition to the breaches, about 10 other spots along the embankment remain in a precarious state.
Local residents and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) fear further flooding if the heavy rains persist.
Reports from media in Tripura, India, indicate that significant rainfall in Tripura and Assam has contributed to the swelling of rivers, including the Surma, Kushiyara, Manu, Dholai, and Khuwai, exacerbating the situation in Bangladesh.
The data from the Srimangal Weather Office shows rainfall measurements of 2 mm on Monday, 136 mm on Tuesday, and 9 mm by Wednesday noon.
The incessant rain and subsequent runoff from upstream have significantly raised the water level of the Dholai River, resulting breaches at Chaitanyganj in Komolganj Sadar union and Khushalpur in Rahimpur union have allowed floodwaters to submerge homes and farmland across a vast area, affecting villages such as Narayanpur, Chaitanyganj, Ubahata, Khushalpur, Chhaikuta, Adhakani, and Kathalkandi.
Shakib Ahmed, an official of Kamalganj Water Development Board, stated that as of 9am on June 19, the water at the Bhanu Gach Railway Bridge area was 26 cm above the danger level and continued to rise at noon. He assured that the Dholai River is under constant surveillance by the board.
The floodwaters have also entered three wards of the municipal area, impacting neighborhoods like Panishala, Chandipur, and Nosratpur, and inundating residential areas, Dak Bungalow, Kamalganj Model High School, Girls' High School, and the upazila market.
In addition to river water, heavy rainfall has caused water from Laghatta and Khinni streams to overflow, flooding agricultural lands in Khushalpur, Patnushar, Munshibazar, Adampur, Islambur, and Alinagar.
Local officials, including Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Zainal Abedin and Kamalganj Municipality Mayor Md Jewel Ahmed, have inspected the breached and vulnerable areas.
The local administrations confirmed the information and assured that they have sufficient relief supplies to support the affected people.
