RANGPUR, July 21: Around 2,000 families have been remaining marooned in different upazilas in Rangpur district after persistent rain and upstream waters flooded low-lying and char areas over the past week.
Thousands of hectares of Aman seedbeds, vegetable fields, peanut fields, and jute fields have been submerged, leaving farmers concerned about their desired harvest.
Worst affected unions along the river basin include Kolcondo, Morneya, Lakkhitari, Nohali, Alambiditor and Gojoghonta unions in Gangachara Upazila; Balapara, Shahidbag and Tepamodhupur unions under Kaunia Upazila.
Water levels of the swelling Teesta are likely to rise further over the 24 hours to Wednesday and the situation could worsen significantly in the coming days, locals said.
Many villages, roads, and farmlands are now submerged as farmers are struggling to shelter their livestock.
Dulal Mia, a resident of Shankardaho village at Gangachara Upazila, said his house has been surrounded by flood water. If the situation continues for another two or three days, his entire house may go underwater, he added.
Sabu, a vegetable grower at Haragachh area in Kaunia Upazila, said that it has been raining incessantly for the past several days and the low-lying areas have gone underwater as a result, adding that his harvests are being damaged due to prolonged submersion.
Rabiul, a resident of Char Morneya in Gangachara Upazila, said one acre of his crop field has already been submerged and he is worried about crop damage.
Mizanur, a farmer at Morneya area under Gangachara Upazila, said floodwater has inundated his entire Aman paddy seedbed and if the water does not recede within two to three days, it will destroy the whole seedbed.
"Even a slight rise in the Teesta River inundates our char, forcing us to evacuate our homes. With the current water levels climbing, we are bracing for a massive flood and our Aman seedbeds are our top priority," he stated.
Tota mia, a farmer at Shankardaho village under Gangachara Upazila said he cultivated peanut on 40 decimals of land this season. His entire crop field has remained submerged for over a week.
His may lose the harvest of his entire peanut field due to prolonged inundation, he apprehended.
In addition, floodwaters have washed away countless fish from local ponds and water bodies, inflicting severe financial devastation on hundreds of farmers, sources at the locality said.
Furthermore, relentless riverbank erosion along the Teesta River continues to affect areas like Morneya and Lakkhitari unions in Gangachara Upazila. The turbulent waters have devoured hundreds of homesteads, trees, and croplands, rendering many locals destitute.
Md. Zillur, chairman of Morneya Union Parishad in Gangachara Upazila, said, hundreds of affected people are facing immense trouble as they are trapped in water. He added that the situation may deteriorate over the coming days.
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