Severe flooding hits Kamalganj, 50 villages submerged

Heavy rainfall and water from upstream have caused severe flooding in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, submerging nearly 30 villages in the Islampur and Adampur unions and impacting an additional 20 villages.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the water level in the Dhalai River had surged 40 centimetres above the danger mark.

This increase has caused breaches in the river embankments at four locations, resulting in widespread flooding.

Approximately 1,000 hectares of Aus and Aman rice fields are underwater, and 10 rural roads have been inundated.

Breaches were reported in the river embankments in the villages of Mokalbil, Gangnagar, Ghoramara, and Lakshmipur.

The regional road connecting Kamalganj and Adampur has also been submerged, particularly in the Ghoramara and Vhanubila areas.

The embankments in Adampur and Islampur unions have collapsed, causing flooding in areas such as Herenga Bazaar, Sripur, and Bhandarigaon.

The Alinagar Mangalpur road is covered by a foot of water, halting traffic and trapping around 15,000 residents.

Additionally, floodwaters have affected various villages within Kamalganj municipality and nearby unions, including Khushalpur, Srinathpur, Jugi Bil, Mangalpur, Barampur, Jalalia, and North Baligaon.

The Sonapur-Somsernagar paved road is submerged, and surrounding areas are flooded. Ponds and fish farms have been swept away, and farmland is underwater.

Five local schools have also been impacted by the flooding.

Jayanta Kumar Ray, the Kamalganj upazila agriculture officer, said that approximately 1,000 hectares of Aman and Aus rice fields have been inundated. The extent of the damage may increase as water levels continue to rise.

Jabed Iqbal, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board's district office, said that the Dhalai River is flowing 44 centimetres above the danger level, with breaches occurring at four points along the embankments.

Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zainal Abedin said that the situation in the flood-affected areas is being monitored, and the issue has been reported to higher authorities.