Water level in many of the rivers in Ganges basin has been swelling continuously for the last couple of days because of onrushing floodwater from upstream catchment areas caused by a heavy downpour.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has further recorded a surging trend at most of the rivers like Ganges at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria and Padma at Goalunda and most of its down streaming rivers and tributaries Friday morning.
Water level in the Ganges River went up by 5cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 2cm at Rajshahi and 4cm each at Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points in the past 24 hours, superintending engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Mukhlesur Rahman told BSS.
However, the Ganges River was flowing 169cm, 185cm, 106cm and 78cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively, while the water level in the Padma River was flowing 29cm above the danger level at the point this morning, Engineer Mukhlesur Rahman added.
A total of 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin Friday, water levels went up at 19 points, while receded at 10 points and remained stable at one point.
Apart from this, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 25 points, while above the danger level at five points.
Water level of the Korotoa River further declined by 6cm and 15 cm at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogra points respectively and the river was flowing 245cm and 335cm below the danger level at the two points respectively.
On the other hand, the local BWDB office has recorded a further falling trend at all three points of the Jamuna River. The water level declined by 3cm at Sariakandi in Bogra, 4cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 1cm at Sirajganj points.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the Jamuna River was still flowing 9cm and 8cm below the danger level at Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively.
The Gur River was flowing 14cm below the danger level at Singra in Natore while the Atrai River was flowing 12cm above the danger level at Baghabari in Sirajganj point.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels went up at five points, while declined at 11 points.
Around 216,000 worst-affected families consisting around 900,000 people have, so far, received relief materials to overcome their livelihood related hardships caused by the flood in different districts under Rajshahi division.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected people amid the recession of the floodwater.
Some 3,426 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 17 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources also said.
