Floods likely to hit nine regions across country
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s flood-prone rivers are swelling due to very heavy rainfall both inside the country and upstream in India, raising the risk of flooding in nine regions.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board issued a warning on Sunday, cautioning that the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers may cross the danger level, with several low-lying areas likely to be inundated.
According to the FFWC, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded in Sylhet, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Rangpur divisions, as well as in India’s Tripura, West Bengal, and Assam.
In the next 72 hours, scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions of Bangladesh, along with adjacent upstream Indian states including Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and Tripura.
As a result, the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division are likely to rise in the next three days.
During this period, the Teesta and Dudhkumar may flow above the danger level, flooding low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Kurigram districts.
Water levels of the Surma, Kushiyara, and Sarigowain rivers are also forecast to rise and flow near the warning level, causing temporary flooding in parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Moulvibazar.
In Chattogram division, the Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Muhuri, and Feni rivers are projected to rise over the next three days.
The Muhuri, Selonia, Feni, and Halda rivers may flow at the warning level, temporarily inundating low-lying areas of Feni and Chattogram districts.
The warnings come as Bangladesh has already experienced intense rainfall.
Between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Kishoreganj’s Nikli recorded 110 millimeters of rainfall, the highest in six hours, while Dhaka registered 9 millimeters.
In the 24 hours from Saturday 9:00 a.m. to Sunday 9:00 a.m., Nikli recorded the country’s highest daily rainfall of 126 millimeters, according to meteorologist A K M Nazmul Haque of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
The department’s forecast indicates widespread rain accompanied by gusty winds across most divisions. By 9:00 am Monday, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet are expected to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers, with moderate to very heavy downpours likely in isolated areas.
Day and night temperatures are expected to fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius across the country.
For Tuesday, similar conditions are expected nationwide, with temperatures dropping slightly.
On Wednesday, most parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, and Sylhet divisions, and many areas of Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions, are forecast to receive rain with gusty winds. Heavy rainfall may occur in scattered places, while temperatures will remain nearly unchanged.
On Thursday, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected in most areas of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, along with many areas in Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in some places, and temperatures could rise slightly.
The Meteorological Department added that rainfall activity is likely to decrease gradually over the next five days, though warnings remain in effect for six divisions, including Dhaka, where very heavy rainfall may occur.