The flood situation across the country’s northern and north-eastern parts has deteriorated in last two days, submerging vast areas of several districts in the Brahmaputra, Padma and Surma basin.
The monsoon flood occurred due to heavy rainfall in the region and some areas of upper riparian Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya in last few days.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Ganges-Padma and Meghna river systems were in the rising trend, which is likely to continue in next 72 hours. The situation would then start improving.
During the period, the flood situation might deteriorate in some areas of Kurigram, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Bogra, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Paban, Faridpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Munshiganj districts.
At the same time, the Surma-Kushiyara river systems likely to fall in next 48 hours. As a result, the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Netrokona districts likely to improve while it is likely to remain steady in Satkhira district.
According to the flood forecasting centre, the water level at 10 measuring stations out of 85 was above danger level as of yesterday.
Dhalra river in Kurigram point was flowing 24cm above the danger level and Atrai river at Baghabari 27cm, Kobadak at Jhikargacha 42cm, Surma at Kanaighat 68cm, Surma at Sunamganj 58cm and Kangsha river at Jariajanjail 135cm.
The met office in its weather bulletin issued at 6pm yesterday said under the influence of active monsoon over the country, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at places over Rangpur division during in next 24 hours.
However, the rainfall in the northern districts would decline in next 24 hours, contributing to improvement of the flood situation in next 48 hours or so.
Meanwhile, the met office recorded more than 100mm rainfall, more than daily average, in several areas of the northern districts.
Of them, 316mm of rain was recorded at Chilmari station, 267mm at Kaunia, 198mm at Rangpur, 150mm at Dewanganj and 126mm in Kurigram in last 24 hours.
Md Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, duty officer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the ongoing flood situation will be improved in next 72 hours or so as the met office forecasts the rainfall to decline after 24 hours.
“This flood can be considered as the last one this year as the monsoon is in its last phase if there is no anomaly in the forecast,” he said.
However, he said, the flood like situation is very usual in this period of a year, which is not alarming. Citing example of last year, he said during the same period of last year, the country’s northern and north-eastern parts experienced the same type of flood for the same reasons – over behaved monsoon and heavy rainfall in the upstream.
Meanwhile, vast areas of agriculture fields, including Aman paddy and vegetables, inundated and damaged due to the flood triggered by heavy rains and onrush of hilly waters over the past few days.
A deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension said that crops would not be heavily damaged if water recedes soon.
“We can measure the extent of damage of croplands once water recedes. A few days later, we will also measure the extent of losses incurred by farmers,” he added.
