Boro plants, vegetables, and melon on several thousand acres of lands have been flooded with saline water as tidal surge from the Bay has breached a few flood control embankments in Kalapara, Galachipa and Mirzaganj upazilas.

Farmers are fearing losses as three to four feet tidal surge flooded vegetable, melon and boro fields in Madhukhali, Mithaganj, Baishtala, Chhoto Baliatali, lyuimpara, Nizampur, Sudhirpur and Mohipur villages under Kalapara upazila after three points of a flood control embankment broke three days ago.

Flood control embankment at Katavarani canal and lyumara of Khaprabhanga area and a section of a polder in Mithaganj union washed away by tidal surge from nearby rivers, local farmers said.

"Ripe water melon on my two acres of land has been flooded by tidal surge through flood control embankment. Besides, chili, dal, sweet potatoes on two and a half acres of land also went under water," said Abdul Mannan, a farmer of Khaprabhanga village.

"Agricultural lands have been affected as saline water entered the areas through the breached portion of the embankment. We informed the local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board of the matter just after the embankment broke," said Mithaganj UP Chairman Hemayet Uddin.

Two points at Mehendiabad and Charkhalin flood control embankments in Mirzaganj upazila also broke and green crops of land went under water.

Char Shahjalal, Char Borhan, Char Hadi, Char Lear, Char Bashbaria, Char Wadel and Char Kachua

under Dashmina upazila also flooded by the tidal surge as the areas are without any embankment.

"Farmers will have to count losses as their vegetable, melon and boro fields in vast areas flooded with tidal surge in absence of flood control embankment here. We earlier demanded building flood control embankments in all coastal island areas but to no effect," Md Hossain Howlader, chairman ofRongopaldi UP, said.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Patuakhali said they asked all the seven upazila offices to make a damage list within seven days from Thursday last.

"We have already informed our higher authorities about the matter. We will take proper step to protect crops for the next season," said Abdul Wadud, deputy divisional engineer forWDB.