Kurigram flooded as rising river levels submerge fields, homes

Continuous heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have led to a rise in water levels across 16 rivers, including the Dharla, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra, and Teesta, causing extensive flooding in Kurigram.

As of 9 am on 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 Kaunia point is flowing 33 centimeters above the danger level. 

Raqibul Hasan, Executive Engineer of the Kurigram Water Development Board, stated that water levels in the Teesta are expected to start receding by evening, but warned that other rivers in the region may not drop below danger levels anytime soon.

The flooding has severely impacted six unions in the Rajarhat, Ulipur, and Chilmari upazilas, submerging more than a hundred homes and rural roads along the Teesta's banks. 
Floodwaters have inundated large stretches of low-lying land and riverbanks, affecting paddy, peanut, and chili fields. Residents are becoming increasingly anxious not only about the rising water levels but also the threat of riverbank erosion.

Khadija Begum, Rajarhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said that approximately 500 families are currently stranded, highlighting the urgent need for assistance.

The agricultural sector has also faced significant damage, with over 300 hectares of Aman paddy and seasonal crops now underwater, according to the Kurigram Agricultural Office. 

While the full extent of the damage remains uncertain, Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, confirmed that around 300 hectares of Aman paddy fields have been submerged.