Hill runoff and rain have flooded low-lying areas of Islampur upazila in Jamalpur, submerging crops, homes and village roads and causing hardship for thousands of people.

Because of rain over the past few days and hill runoff from upstream, water began rising in low-lying parts of Saphdhari, Chinaduli and Noarpara unions of the upazila. Aman rice seedbeds, vegetables, jute and other seasonal crops have gone under water, causing extensive damage.

Farmer Abdul Hakim Pramanik of Projapoti village in Saphdhari union said jute on his three bighas has been submerged. If the water stays for long, the jute will be ruined.

Rafiq Mondal of the same village said vegetables on his 40 decimals of land are partly under water, and if the water rises the rest will go under too.

Several village roads have also been submerged by the rising water, disrupting traffic and reducing student attendance at various educational institutions.

Islampur upazila agriculture officer Faisal Ahmed said jute, seedbeds and vegetables on 25 hectares in four unions on the Jamuna have gone under water.

Abdul Mannan, water gauge reader at the Jamalpur Water Development Board, said the water at the Bahadurabad Ghat point is flowing 78 cm below the danger mark, after rising 27 cm in the past 24 hours.

Jamalpur Water Development Board executive engineer Md Nakibuzzaman Khan said: "The water may rise for another two to three days, and the Jamuna may cross the danger mark. But there is a chance it will recede within a very short time."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.