Sporadic erosion amid improving flood situation

BSS :
As the flood situation started showing an improving trend, incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from alongside major rivers in the last 24 hours till Saturday morning in the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of all major rivers, except the Dharla, marked falls during the period but were still flowing above the danger levels (DL) at 10 points in five northern districts.
According to a bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of BWDB, the Brahmaputra is in a falling trend while the Jamuna is in a steady trend and water levels of both rivers may fall in the next 24 hours.
No notable rainfalls were recorded from the upstream in the northeastern Indian states and also from the downstream in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours.  
The flood situation at low lying places of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Sirajganj districts may deteriorate in the next 24 hours, the bulletin added.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh today told BSS that incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from few places alongside major rivers in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts.
“All flood control structures and devices of BWDB are remaining safe everywhere
in Rangpur zone where riverbank protection works are being conducted at several points as the extent of erosion continues rising with recession of floodwaters,” Ghosh added.
The Dharla marked a further rise by 33cm at Kurigram and was flowing 61cm above the DL.
Meanwhile, the Ghaghot fell by 3cm and was flowing 17cm above the DL at Gaibandha point.
The Brahmaputra fell 8cm at Hatia and 7cm at Chilmari and was flowing above the DL by 2cm and 43cm at these points respectively in Kurigram.
Besides, the Jamuna fell by 4cm each at Phulchhari, Shaghata and Bahadurabad, 1cm each at Sariakandi and Kazipur and remained steady at Sirajganj points.
The Jamuna was flowing above the DL by 48cm at Phulchhari and 30cm at Shaghata in Gaibandha, 59cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 68cm at Sariakandi in Bogra and 67cm each at Kazipur and Sirajganj points in Sirajganj.
“Water level of the Teesta marked a sharp fall by 55cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari where the river was flowing 20cm below the DL,” Engineer Ghosh added.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension said floodwater has submerged standing crops on over 30,000 hectares of land in low-lying areas of Rangpur agriculture region as more reports of submergence of crops were being received. bdnews24.com adds: The Department of Disaster Management is hoping that the water levels in 15 flood-affected districts will recede soon after an onrush of rain in upstream areas caused rivers to swell above the danger mark at 22 points.
“Water levels are rising in some areas and falling in others. Hopefully, flood waters will recede very soon,” said Atiqul Haque, director general of the DDM.
Water levels in the Jamuna and Padma basins will continue to rise over the next 24 hours, said Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan. The flood situation in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, Tangail, Sirajganj, Pabna, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur and Shariatpur districts may deteriorate during that time.
Monsoon weather is fairly active across the country and moderate in the North Bay, said Abul Kalam Mallik, senior meteorologist at the Met Office. Chances of rainfall may increase towards the end of the week.
Cumilla recorded the highest rainfall in the country – 82 mm over the past 24 hours.
According to Saturday’s forecast, light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusts are likely in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions and in some parts of the Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal Divisions.
The DDM has also ordered field level workers to take necessary measures and monitor the flood situation.
“We are receiving regular reports of the situation. The situation is normal as short-term flooding occurs every year. We are not worried,” said Atiqul.
We are taking all kinds of preparations to deal with the situation, he said. Necessary food aid has already been provided.
The FFWC had earlier hinted that flooding could occur in some districts in the first week of September.
The four phases of floods last year caused a financial loss of nearly Tk 60 million to the country, according to government estimates.