Teesta inundates low-lying areas in northern districts

Heavy rainfall and the release of upstream water have caused the Teesta River to swell, inundating low-lying areas in northern region of Bangladesh, leaving 14,000 families marooned.

At least 14,000 families living in char areas in five northern districts have been marooned, said Ahsan Habib, Superintending Engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board (WDB), reports UNB.

“The flood situation developed after India opened all 40 gates of the Gazaldoba Barrage.

The gates were opened on Sunday afternoon, causing the Teesta to flow above the danger level until around 11 pm,” he said.

To ease mounting water pressure, authorities opened all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage, inundating low-lying areas along the riverbanks.

According to the WDB official, at least 14,000 families in the char areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts have been stranded by the rising water.

He also said riverbank erosion has intensified with the rising water level.

Over the past 24 hours, at least 26 houses in the five districts have been washed away by the river.

Some flood-victims alleged that no one came forward to check on them or provide assistance despite their being stranded for the past two days.

According to the Water Development Board, the Teesta’s water level at the Dalia point was recorded at 52.0 centimetres at 12:00 pm on Monday (June 29), which is 15 centimetres below the danger mark.

However, the WDB warned that the river could cross the danger level again at any time.

Residents living along the Teesta expressed concern over further flooding as water continues to rise.

A vast tract of cropland, including peanut fields, Aman paddy seedbeds and sweet pumpkin cultivation in char areas of Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Gangachara, Kaunia, Pirgachha, Kurigram and Gaibandha have already gone under water, causing losses to farmers.

Lokman Mia, a peanut farmer from Kashiram area in Kaliganj, said he cultivated peanuts on 70 decimals of leased char land.

Prolonged waterlogging has caused the crop to rot and the plants to turn yellow, raising fears of lower yields and financial losses.

Farmers said fluctuating river levels have created uncertainty, while many Aman paddy seedbeds prepared for the current planting season have been damaged, forcing them to consider preparing new seedbeds.

Nazrul Haque, a farmer from Char Chabbish Hazari village in Rangpur, said continuous rainfall since Sunday night and the release of upstream water were pushing the river level higher, threatening paddy seedlings, peanuts, sweet pumpkins and other crops.

Bulu Mia, another farmer from Mahipur char area, said floodwater entered homes due to upstream runoff, leaving families and livestock in distress.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said some families living on Teesta chars remain marooned.

He said local union chairmen have been instructed to prepare lists of affected families, after which dry food assistance will be distributed.

Executive Engineer of Water Development Board at Dalia point Amitabh Chowdhury said the river has been fluctuating above and below the danger mark.

He also urged char residents to remain alert, warning that continued rainfall and upstream inflow could push the water level higher later in the day.