Floods set to improve as upstream flow decreases

Staff Reporter :
Despite inundation of some low-lying areas, the overall flood situation in country’s northern region is likely to improve further with decrease in the flow of upstream waters from India and even though water of Teesta river at Rangpur’s Kaunia point and Jamuna river at Tangail’s Porabari point are now flowing above the danger level.
Waters of some rivers are flowing now very near to danger level like the river Dudhkumar at Pateswari, Dharla at Kurigram Sadar, Brahmaputra at Hatia and Chilmari under Kurigram district, Jamuna at Fulchari and Bangali river at Shimulbari in Gaibandha, Jamuna at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, Kazipur in Sirajganj, Sirajganj Sadar, river Karotoa-Atrai in Baghabari , Someswari at Kalmakanda in Netrokona district.
Meanwhile, water level of Teesta river in Lalmonirhat has receded while it is flowing above danger level in Kurigram this morning.
Teesta river water was flowing 37cm above the danger level at Kaunia Teesta Bridge point at 9:00am, submerging 25 villages and chars of five unions in Rajarhat, Ulipur and Chilmari upazilas of Kurigram.
Sarder Udoy Raihan, Executive Engineer of WDB also in-charge of FFWC, said that the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Padma rivers are in a rising trend, which may continue in next 24 hours.
Besides, the Ganges river is in a steady state, which may fall in next 24 hours.
All the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 24 hours, he added.
The Teesta, Dharla & Dudkumar rivers in the northern region of the country may fall In next 24 hours and the Teesta river may fall below danger level at Kaunia point, Sarder Udoy Raihan said.
Floodwater has entered houses in chars and the low-lying areas along
the river banks. Roads and Aman paddy fields have also been submerged by water.
Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in Kurigram, said that the Teesa swelled in Kurigram due to the onrush of hilly water.
It is expected to go below the danger level in Kurigram in the next 24 hours, he hoped.
Besides, the water of Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Gangadhar rivers in Kurigram is flowing below the danger level, he added.
WDB Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Shunil Kumar said the Teesta water is below danger level at Dalia Point in Teesta Barrage area of Hatibandha Upazila.
However, the water has crossed the danger level downstream of the barrage. Water flow from upstream India has decreased now. There is no threat of major flood situation in Teesta shoal at this moment, he added.
Abdul Quddus, chairman of Gharialdanga Union of Rajarhat upazila said that six riverside villages and chars in his union have been flooded, affecting more than 2,000 families.
Farmer Nazar Ali, 67, of Ghatiashyam village of Rajarhat upazila told this correspondent that his family had to take shelter on the WDB dyke with their cattle this morning as river water entered their house. Aman paddy of his eight bighas of land went under water, he said.
FFWC forecasts that the flood will not persist for long.