Major rivers cross danger level at 23 pts

News Desk :
Major rivers crossed danger marks at 23 more points across the country as all the four of the country’s major basins continued to rise due to incessant downpours and onrush of water from upstream, according to a bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) issued here yesterday.
Flood situation in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajganj and Tangail districts may deteriorate in next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said adding Flood situation in Lalmonirhat, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts may improve in next 24 hours. Water levels at 63 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 29 stations recorded fall. Among the 93 monitored stations, water level at one river station has been registered steady while water levels at 23 river stations are flowing above danger level, the bulletin added. All the major rivers are in rising trend except the Surma-Kushiyrara, it said adding, The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma rivers may continue rising in next 48 hours and the Atrai river at Baghabari and Padma river at Goalondo point may cross danger level in next 24 hours.
Heavy rain over the past few days have flooded twenty districts across the country, and authorities concerned said that the flood situation may deteriorate further with the water level likely to rise in the next two days.
Thousands of families have been marooned in these districts after floodwater from the rivers flowing above the danger level inundating the districts, according to Water Development Board (WDB) officials on Tuesday.
The local administrations in these areas are providing rice, dry food, medicines and money to the flood affected people.
In Kurigram, six people drowned in Ulipur and Roumari upazilas on Tuesday as the Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers continue to flow above the danger level, leaving nearly 300,000 people marooned in nine upazilas, according to local authorities.
Earlier, four children have also died after falling into the floodwater in two upazilas of the district.
The situation is continuing to deteriorate due to heavy incessant rainfall and continuous swelling of all the rivers, including Dharla, Dudhkumar and Brahmaputra.
A total of 384 educational institutions in nine upazilas have also been closed.
In Gaibandha, heavy rain and water from upstream have pushed the water in Ghagot and Brahmaputra rivers above the danger level, worsening the flood situation.
Local authorities said over 254,000 people were left stranded in four upazilas, who are also facing a major crisis of food and drinking water. Of them, 42,102 people are currently in 114 shelters.
Floodwater also broke through three points of two embankments of Ghagot and Brahmaputra rivers, flooding 31 villages and washing away various crops in 1,246 hectares of land.
As many as 28,230 homes, 92 kilometres of road, four kilometres of embankment and six culverts were damaged. A total of 155 schools were closed, while five schools devoured by the rivers.
In Dinajpur, 10,000 families were left stranded after three villages were flooded following heavy rainfall. Water in all the rivers of the district, including Atrai, Purnabhaba and Karatoa, is yet to exceed the danger level, but the low lying areas have already been flooded.
WDB officials said dams protecting the town were at risk of collapse due to higher water pressure.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also destroyed Aush paddy in nearly 50 bighas of land in the district’s Hili, making the farmers suffer massive loss.
In Nilphamari, water in Teesta River was flowing below the danger level yesterday afternoon, showing a sign of improvement.
Local authorities said onrush of upstream water and heavy rainfall had triggered floods in 15 char areas under the district, leaving over 20,000 families marooned, over the last few days.
Floodwater has started to recede from these areas as water level in Teesta was in falling trend.
However, 16 educational institutions, which were damaged during the flood, have been declared closed in two upazilas
In Sylhet, three unions of Nabiganj upazila were affected as water level of Kushiyara River rose. 10 educational institutes were declared closed while already 90 percent areas of Digholbag union went under flood water.
Besides, 40 percent of Inatganj union and 20 percent of Aushkandi union have been flooded, local sources said.
In Moulvibazar, a total 70 villages have been flooded as heavy rainfall and rising water level continue to affect new areas.
Moulvibazar Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer Ranendra Shankar Chakrabarty said, “The Manu River, depending on the different areas it is neighboring, is flowing 35cm-100cm above the danger level.
In Sunamganj, around 104,000 people remained marooned after Surma River flooded many areas over the past few days following heavy rain and flash floods from the hills in India’s Cherrapunji.
The water in Surma River was flowing 79cm above the danger level at Shologhor point yesterday afternoon.
WDB officials said floodwater would not decrease until rain stops.
In Tangail, many villagers in Bhuiyanpur upazila lost their homes to erosion caused by Jamuna River, after the water level in the river rose over the past few days.
WDB officials said nearly all the rivers in the district were flowing above the danger level. They, however, added that the water level may start decreasing from Thursday.
In Jamalpur, Jamuna River was flowing above the danger level yesterday afternoon due to heavy rain and upstream water, leading to a rise in the floodwater level in seven upazilas.
The flood also left over 200,000 people marooned in different areas and destroyed crops in nearly 20,000 hectares of land.
Around the district, 250 educational institutions were closed.