A rising trend of water in many of the rivers in the Ganges basin has been recorded again in the wake of onrushing of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas after a steady condition for the last couple of days.
Water levels increased at 16 points while receded at 13 points and remained stable at one point among the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin in the past 24 hours ending 9am on Sunday.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 24 points, while above the danger level at six points.
"We recorded rising trends in many of the rivers including Ganges, Padma and most of the down streaming rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin today [Sunday]," said Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Water level in the Ganges River increased by 2cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 1cm each at Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge and 4cm at Talbaria points at 9am Sunday.
But, the Ganges River was still flowing 164cm, 182cm, 108cm, and 74cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level in the Padma River declined by 2cm afresh at Goalondo point and the river was flowing 25cm above the danger level at the point in the morning, the engineer added.
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Water level of the Korotoa River further declined by 16cm and 8cm at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogra points respectively and the river was flowing 272cm and 355cm below the danger level at the two points respectively this morning.
On the other hand, the local BWDB office recorded a rising trend again at two points of the Jamuna River on Sunday. The water level increased by 2cm at Sariakandi in Bogra and 1cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj while remained steady at Sirajganj point.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the Jamuna River was still flowing 6cm and 11cm below the danger level at Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively, while 2cm above the danger level at Sariakandi.
The Gur River was flowing 18cm below the danger level at Singra in Natore with 1cm fall afresh while the Atrai River was flowing 9cm above the danger level at Baghabari in Sirajganj point with 2cm fall on Sunday morning.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels declined at nine points while increased at six points and remained steady at one point.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 14 points, while above the danger mark at two points during the period.
3,585 patients suffer from water-related diseases
Meanwhile, the district and upazila administrations with the local public representatives have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood situation began.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 3,585 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 18 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.
People continue to suffer in Satkhira, Tangail floods
In Satkhira, incessant rain and powerful tide waters of the Kapataksha and Kholpetua rivers along Assasuni and Shyamnagar upazilas broke and breached through different dykes keeping people of over 80 villages marooned.
On Saturday, different points of a dyke in Lebubunia area under Gabura union of Shyamnagar, ring dyke along Kholpetua River in Kashimari union of Shyamnagar were freshly breached. As a result the two unions and Pratapnagar of Assasuni were submerged.
Assasuni Upazila Chairman ABM Mostakim said 20,000 families of 70 villages in four unions of Assasuni havebeen currently remaining marooned. "They are living in inhumane conditions, not a little bit of space is available to even stand on."
Many people in the marooned regions are struggling to find spots even for cooking. Men, children and women could not manage the necessary amount of food and have been somehow surviving with dry foods.
Shahidul Islam, of Mariala village in Sreeula union said: "We are going through endless suffering. House inundated in water, the stove overwhelmed by water. We couldn't cook anything for the past two days, only had dry foods."
Satkhira Deputy Commissioner SM Mostafa Kamal said: “Necessary amount of relief would be provided to the flood affected people on behalf of the government. Due to strong tides and natural reasons permanent dykes could not be built. We have discussed how to stop the rising water with Union Parishad chairpersons and officials of the Water Development Board.”
The DC further said army members were deployed to construct dykes but nothing could be done due to tidal pressures, adding that construction of temporary dykes would be arranged after discussing the matter with army members.
In Tangail, although floodwaters receded and at the moment none in the district has been remaining marooned, locals are still plagued by the damage done by this year's flood which started about two months earlier.
According to the relief and rehabilitation office of the district administration, 613,000 people had to sustain loss in the flood.
Altogether 849 villages of 11 upazilas were flooded, damaging roads, and educational institutions and drinking water sources at a differing level. Twenty six bridges were damaged completely and 178 others were partially damaged.
Local sources said 17 people including children were killed being drowned by accidentally falling into floodwaters.
According to sources from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Tangail, crops on 18,126 hectares of land were submerged and among them crops on 13,892 hectares were ruined completely. The damage has caused loss to 107,391 farmers.
Our correspondents Asaduzzaman Sardar, Satkhira and Abdullah Al Numan, Tangail contributed to this report
