Flood threat returns to Buloqboshi: Residents alarmed by rising water levels in Southern Fergana Canal

Kun.uz received a complaint from residents of Sarbontepa neighborhood in Buloqboshi district, Andijan region. A few months ago, a flood in the upper part of this village caused significant damage to local homes and property.

According to community members, as of July 8, the dam along the Great Fergana Canal – about 1 to 1.5 kilometers downstream from the previous flood site – has eroded and weakened. Around 120–150 meters of the dam are reportedly affected. Locals are particularly concerned that if the dam is breached, the floodwaters could once again cause severe damage to the village.

“The people, out of fear, are using their own money to bring and dump soil here to prevent the village from flooding. Just two months ago, half our village was swept away in less than an hour. Now the same situation is repeating itself 1–1.5 km downstream.

“The elders of the neighborhood are putting up tapes to block cars from using the road. We’re appealing to our government, the regional governor, and the district governor—please take timely action to prevent disaster. If floodwaters sweep away the village again, any help afterward will be pointless because we’ll have to rebuild everything from scratch. We saw firsthand the devastation last time. We ask you—please prevent this danger,” reads the residents’ appeal.

A video taken by community activists shows that water levels in parts of the concrete canal have risen by 70–90 cm. According to the complainant, a neighborhood prevention officer was called to assess the dangerous situation but could not attend because he was “in training.” The neighborhood head was also reportedly unavailable for the same reason.

“We didn’t know who else to call. We’ve tried to explain everything as clearly as possible. Please, investigate this situation. If the dam breaks tomorrow, it’ll be too late for help to matter,” say the activists.

If the dam collapses, a large volume of water could reach residential areas just 300 meters downstream.

Emergency Ministry says ‘the risk is minimal’

To clarify the situation, Kun.uz reached out to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES).

According to Nodirbek Yuldoshev, a representative of the MES’s Andijan regional office, the situation is not as alarming as it appears. Nevertheless, to ease public concern, gravel has been dumped and the dam reinforced.

“We visited the site. All relevant authorities, led by the district governor, are working there. Trucks and gravel are arriving. There’s no danger, but since residents demanded it, the dam is being reinforced along a 120-meter stretch.

“It’s true that the dam near the river has slightly subsided. But since the river’s water is regulated, the flow will not exceed safe limits. There’s no serious cause for concern,” said the MES official.

He also noted that the district governor has arrived on site and a crisis response headquarters has been established. All work is expected to be completed today.

The MES press office clarified that the canal and related infrastructure fall under the jurisdiction of Uzbekhydroenergo JSC. Kun.uz contacted the company’s press service for comment on the situation.

Press officer Hulkar Juraeva stated that they are reviewing the case and will issue a comment shortly.

Complainants taken to police

Following the spread of a video appeal by residents concerned about the canal’s rising water on social media, Buloqboshi district governor Furqatbek Botakhonov visited the site. He gathered the residents who had posted the video and reportedly told them such issues should not be publicized on social media.

Subsequently, community activists who had requested action to prevent flooding were taken to the district police department, where they were required to submit written explanations before being released. However, the person who filmed and posted the video reportedly remains in custody at the police station.

Sherzodbek Nuriddinov, press secretary for the Andijan regional police department, told Kun.uz that one of the individuals had uploaded the video with the alarming caption, “The Great Fergana Canal is flooding; residents are in danger.” The video has since been deleted. Authorities stated that “to investigate and clarify the situation, residents were brought to the police station with their consent.” They were later released. The actions of the person who posted the video are still under review.

Meanwhile, Buloqboshi district authorities stated that on July 9, a working group assessed the water level of the Fergana Canal passing through Sarbontepa neighborhood and found that while the level was elevated, it remained below the critical threshold.

However, on the morning of July 10, district governor Furqat Botakhonov visited the area and it was announced that the dam was being reinforced.

“This morning, under the supervision of district governor F. Botakhonov, work began to lay down boulders and gravel on the upper section of a 150-meter stretch of road at risk of flooding. The governor and other responsible officials held discussions with residents, assuring them that he personally took the matter under control and that all preventive measures would be taken,” the district administration stated.

As noted earlier, the detainment of the complainants occurred shortly after the governor arrived at the site.

Efforts to contact Rustam Eshonov, spokesperson for the Andijan regional administration, throughout the day were unsuccessful.

It is worth recalling that in May of this year, a section of the Southern Fergana Canal running through Sarbontepa neighborhood was damaged, resulting in massive flooding. Dozens of homes and yards were inundated, and roads and crops destroyed. Andijan regional governor Shukhrat Abdurakhmonov visited the site, and compensation efforts began the same day.

Residents previously told Kun.uz that the embankment had started to erode as early as April 24, and that water had been seeping through since then.