Water started overflowing Chhayar Haor in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj district as an embankment collapsed early Sunday, making it more difficult for farmers in Haor areas to harvest paddy.

Local people blamed negligence on the part of the authorities concerned of local Water Development Board for the collapse of the levee.

According to the local office of Department of Agriculture Extension, this year, 4,637 hectares of land in Chhayar Haor was brought under boro cultivation and already 95% paddy of the haor area have been harvested.

Also read: Sunamganj farmers fear crops loss as floodwater enters haors

But the local farmers claimed that they failed to harvest 15% crops of the haor.

Takbir Hossain, a farmer of Sultanpur village in the upazila, said that he failed to harvest 30% crops of his land due to lack of paddy workers.

Shalla Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Abu Taleb, said a portion of Chhayar Haor dam collapsed early hours of Sunday during nor’wester, flooding many areas.

However, the main closure of the embankment remained unhurt.

Also read: 41% paddy harvested in haor region until April 20: Ministry

Sunamganj haor region was hit by the first phase of flash floods due to onrush of hill water and upstream water running down hills following torrential rain in Meghalaya and Cherrapunji of India recently.

A vast tract of boro cropland was inundated, forcing farmers to harvest their crops early to minimise losses.