Staff Reporter :
Over 40,000 people in five northern districts are stranded as the major rivers including Teesta and Dudhkumar Rivers are continuing to swell accompanied by recent heavy rainfall and onrush of water from the nearby hills has intensified the situation.
According to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the water level of the Teesta River at Dalia Point was flowing 15 cm above the danger level, and the water level of the Dudhkumar River at Pateshwari Point is flowing 06 cm above the danger level on Thursday.
In the last 24 hours, the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur Division have increased, FFWC bulletin read.
“In the next 12 hours, the water levels of these rivers may continue to rise, and the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers may continue to flow above the danger level; in the following 12 hours, the water levels may stabilize,” it said.
“During this period, low-lying areas adjacent to these rivers in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Kurigram districts may be inundated. However, on the 2nd and 3rd days, the water levels of these rivers may start to recede and flow below the danger level,” FFWC said.
“The water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers have increased in the last 24 hours and may continue to rise for the next 3 days, possibly flowing at the warning level; in the following 2 days, the levels may stabilize,” FFWC bulletin said.
The Padma River water level may rise over the next 3 days and flow at the warning level.
During this period, low-lying areas adjacent to the river in Rajbari, Faridpur, Pabna, Manikganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Munshiganj, and Dhaka districts may be temporarily inundated. However, in the following 2 days, the water level may remain steady.
Meanwhile, people reportedly said that their houses, croplands and various makeshift structures in the low lying areas in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Rangpur have been washed away.
At least 33 villages in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat district while 27 villages in Kurigram and 15 villages in Nilphamari have been affected by the flood water. Many poor people have taken safe shelters.
The Water Development Board (WDB) said that heavy rainfall and upstream water flow may continue for the next two days, posing a risk of short-term flooding in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Gaibandha.
Due to continuous heavy rain and upstream hill runoff, the water level of the Teesta has risen significantly. To manage the flow, all 44 sluice gates of the barrage have been opened,” Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of WDB’s Dalia division, said.
Meanwhile, Lalmonirhat district administration said that the administration is prepared to provide all sorts of support to the flood affected people and monitoring the flood situation.
