More families have been affected by the flood as new areas were inundated in Dimla and Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari due to heavy rainfall and onrush of water from upstream.
The Teesta was flowing 22cm above the danger mark at Dalia point until 9am on Saturday morning, confirmed Nurul Islam, the gauge reader at Teesta Barrage.
All 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage were kept open since this morning to control the strong current, he said.
“The water level has now fallen and the river is flowing 18cm over the danger mark as of 12pm on Saturday,” he added.
Low-lying areas of Dimla, Jaldhaka and Lalmonirhat were inundated due to heavy rains and as a result 23 families in Dimla's Baishpukur area have become stranded, Dalia Water Development Board's warning centre said.
WDB Deputy Assistant Engineer (Water Branch) Aminur Rashid said: “Low-lying and char areas in the Teesta River basin were inundated due to heavy rains and onrush of water coming down from India. The Teesta barrage has opened all 44 sluice gates to control the floodwaters.”
However, consequently, peoples’ homes in the chars of Khalisha Chapani were inundated and the houses were submerged in the floodwaters, he added.
East Chhatnay Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Latif Khan said many people have shifted their homes to higher grounds as the Teesta water began flowing above the danger level Saturday morning.
Apart from East Chhatnay, homes of 3,000 families in Khagakharbari, Tepakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach and Gayabari of Dimla upazila have been inundated.
Moreover, homes of 5,000 families were also flooded in 10 char and char villages in Golmunda, Dowabari, Shaulmari and Kaimari union of Jaldhaka upazila.
Maqbool Hossain, a member of Ward No 2 of Khagakharibari Union under Dimla upazila, said that about 60 families under his ward are suffering due to the flood water entering their houses. “If the water level continues to rise, their homes will have to be relocated.”