Flood situation in Ganges basin worsens further

The overall flood situation in the Ganges basin has further deteriorated as the water level in most of its rivers and tributaries recorded a continuously rising trend for the last couple of days because of onrush of floodwater from the upstream hilly catchment areas.

Of the 30 river points, monitored in the Ganges basin on Wednesday, water levels increased at 19 points, and receded at 11 points, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

However, the rivers were still flowing below the danger level at 25 points, while flowing above the danger level at five other points on Wednesday like Tuesday.

The local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded a rising trend at all the eight points in the Ganges and the Padma Rivers on Wednesday for the fourth consecutive day, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.

The water level in the Ganges River further went up by 10 centimetres (cm) each at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, at Rajshahi, at Hardinge Bridge, and nine cm at Talbaria points.

The water level in the Karatoya further increased by 18 cm at Chak Rahimpur point and declined by two cm at Bogra point afresh. The Korotoa River was flowing 95 cm above the danger level Wednesday morning.

FFWC Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a rising trend has been recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River afresh Wednesday morning.

The Jamuna River went up by three cm at Sariakandi in Bogra, two cm Kazipur in Sirajganj point and one cm at Sirajganj points. The river was still flowing 11 cm above the danger level at Sariakandi point Wednesday morning.

The Gur River further increased by 16 cm in its Shingra point in Natore flowing 106 cm above the danger mark. The Atrai River went up by three cm at Baghabari in Sirajganj.

The Mahananda River also increased by 26 cm and 21 cm at Rohanpur and at Chapainawabganj points respectively. 

The Little Jamuna went up by nine cm at Naogaon point. Besides, the Atrai River increased by eight cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon, and 11 cm at Atrai points Wednesday morning. 

Both the Little Jamuna and the Atrai Rivers were flowing above the danger level at the three points.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels increased at 15 points, and declined at one point like Tuesday.

The rivers were flowing below the danger level in 10 points, while above the danger mark at another six points Wednesday morning.

Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the Ganges-Padma River is in a rising trend, which may continue in the next 24 hours, while the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River is in a rising trend, which may continue in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the local administration has been continuously distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas since the flood began.

More than 2.19 lakh families consisting of around 9.86 lakh people in different districts of the division affected badly by the flood have, so far, been given relief materials to overcome their livelihood related hardships.

As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the catastrophic situation, the government has, by now, allocated 1,679.1 tonnes of rice, Tk43.55 lakh in cash, 20,380 packets of dry-food, Tk23 lakh for baby food and Tk40 lakh for animal feed.

Moinul Islam, the additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is in its final stage.

Apart from this, 2,260.9 tonnes of rice, Tk31.10 lakh, 2,220 packets of dry food, Tk3 lakh for baby food and Tk5 lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution.

Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood-affected people amidst the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Some 5,930 patients were reported to have suffered from various water-related diseases and 25 people died due to flood-related incidents, particularly drowning and snakebite since July 1, sources said.