Staff Reporter :
Heavy rainfall in Sikkim has led to a significant rise in water levels along the Teesta River, prompting fears of flooding in northern areas, including Lalmonirhat.
The authorities at the Teesta Barrage have taken preemptive measures by opening 44 gates to manage the water pressure, resulting in the inundation of low-lying and charred areas across Lalmonirhat district.
According to reports from the Water Development Board, the water level at Kaunia Point was dangerously close to the danger mark, just three centimetres below as of Friday morning.
Similarly, at the Dalia point, the water level was also at a critical point, just three centimetres below the danger mark. Over the past 24 hours, the river’s water level has surged by nearly 80 centimetres.
Earlier in the day, the water level at Dalia Barrage Point was 61 centimetres below the danger level, while at Kaunia Point, it was only 5 centimetres below.
By noon, the situation had intensified, with the water level at Dalia Point reaching 69 centimetres below the danger level and 20 centimetres below at Kaunia Point.
The rising waters of the Teesta have left hundreds of families stranded in areas such as Kalmati, Khuniyagachh, Mahishkhocha, Gobardhan, Sardarpara, Votmari, Kakina, Saniyajan, Goddimari, Patikapara, Singimari, and Sindurna Union areas.
Residents along the riverbanks, including those in Balapara Union in Kaunia Upazila, are particularly vulnerable.
Local residents expressed deep concerns over potential crop damage, including peanuts and various vegetables, if flooding occurs.
Villagers in Charganai village, Kaunia, reported a rapid increase in water levels since Friday morning, causing panic among the populace.
Locals said if their homes are flooded before Eid, they will become waterlogged, causing significant hardship.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, as reported by the Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat, Sunil Kumar, there is a forecast of moderate to heavy and, in some places, very heavy rainfall in the northern region of the country and the adjacent upstream areas over the next five days.
As a result, the water levels in rivers such as the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar in the northern region of the country are expected to rise rapidly, and the Teesta River may exceed the danger level at some points for a short period.