Water above danger mark in Dharla, rising in Brahmaputra and Teesta

The waters of Dharla, Teesta and Brahmaputra have started rising in the upper reaches of Kurigram, resulting in the lower reaches of the river basin starting to flood. 

The water level in Dharla rose to 15cm above the danger mark.

The local Water Development Board has said that there is no possibility of flooding in the district even though the water level is forecast to continue rising for the next 48 hours.

According to the control room of the Water Development Board, the water level of Dharla river has risen by 36cm in the last 24 hours till 8am on Wednesday and is flowing 15cm above the danger level at the bridge point. The water level of Brahmaputra has increased by 30cm at Nunkhawa point and 13cm at Chilmari point.

Water in Teesta increased by 8cm at Kaunia point, and erosion in the basin was reported to be severe. According to local sources, more than 100 families in some unions of Rajarhat and Ulipur upazilas have lost their land and are living in squalor due to the erosion.

Subal Chandra Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Observatory, said heavy rains started in the district from Wednesday noon due to monsoon winds. There may be rain with the presence of clouds in the sky till September 17, after which weather conditions are expected to normalize.

Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said that due to heavy rains in India in the last two days, the water levels of the rivers of the district have started to rise, and may continue to rise for the next two days. However, as the water level in the Brahmaputra is still one meter below the danger level, it is expected that the water level will recede rapidly.

Responding to a question, the executive engineer said: "Even though some areas of the river basin, including some chars, have been inundated, there is no forecast of flooding in the district as a whole." 

He also hoped that the overall situation would improve in a day or two with the reduction in rainfall, and said that the Water Development Board was working to prevent erosion in the Teesta basin.