Another 860 hectares of cropland were submerged in Harmandir Haor in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj  on Sunday night after the flood protection dam in Katakhali River collapsed.

Following the authority’s instruction farmers of Sunamganj haor region have started harvesting  half ripen Boro paddy to reduce losses.

According to locals,  water from the upstream have increased the water level in the rivers in haor region and created pressure at risky points of flood protection dams.

Water overflowed from Patlai River into an extended part of Gurmar Hair and  later a dam beside Tanguar Haor watchtower broke down.

As a result Boro paddy in South Sreepur union in Tahirpur upazila and North and South Bongshikunda union in Madhyanagar upazila went under water.

Bimal Chandra Shom, Deputy Director of Agricultural Extension Department said this year Boro paddy has been cultivated on 2,22,805 hectares of land in Sunamganj  with production target of 14 lakh metric tons. 

Harvesting in only 51,000 hectares of land has been completed so far, he said.

READ: Second phase of flash floods hits Sunamganj haor region

On March 30, Sunamganj haor region was hit by the first phase of flash floods which inundated at least 5,000 hectares of land affecting at least 27,000 farmers, he said.

Prabir Kumar Goswami, Supervisor Engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board said, “From morning water level in the Surma River started decreasing and it will decline further  if it does not rain in the next 24 hours. But excessive water from Sunamganj haors is likely to enter haors in Netrakona”.

Md Jahangir Hossain, Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner said,'' All the dams in Sunamganj haor region are at risk as rivers swell. We have instructed the farmers to cut 80% ripen paddy afer monitoring  the condition of the dams 24 hours.”