Overall flood situation has started improving in the Ganges basin as water level in many of its rivers and tributaries has been declining for the couple of days in wake of reduction of onrushing of flood water from upstream hilly catchment areas.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded falling trends in many rivers, including Atrai, Mohananda, Ganges, Padma and the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin on Sunday, said Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB.
He said water level of the Ganges River further declined by 3cm each at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and Hardinge Bridge, 4cm at Rajshahi and 2cm at Talbaria points at 9am.
Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was flowing 211cm, 218cm, 157cm, and 129cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River declined by 7cm further at Goalondo point and it was flowing 44cm below the danger level at the point in the morning, he added.
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Of the 30 monitored river points in the Ganges basin Sunday, water levels receded at 22 points while increased at eight points, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points while above the danger level at one point like the previous day.
Water level in the Korotoa River decreased by 5cm and 24cm afresh at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogra points respectively and the river was flowing 269cm and 336cm below the danger level respectively in the morning.
FFWC Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a falling trend was recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River further on Sunday.
The water level declined by 17cm at Sariakandi in Bogra, 13cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 15cm at Sirajganj points.
The Jamuna River was flowing 132cm, 110cm, and 120cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur, and Sirajganj points respectively Sunday morning. Water level in Atrai River receded by 26cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon and 1cm at Atrai points this 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 all the points and the rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points this morning.
Engineer Bhuiyan said all the major rivers of the country are in falling trend and it may continue in next 48 hours and all the major rivers of the country are flowing below their respective danger levels.
Distribution of relief materials
Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began.
The government has distributed relief materials among around 217,000 flood-affected families consisting 865,000 people to lessen their financial hardships in the affected areas in Rajshahi division.
As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has, so far, allocated 1,547 tons of rice, Tk38.10 lakh in cash, 16,580 packets of dry food, Tk21 lakh for baby food, and Tk40 lakh for animal feed.
Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is on the final stage.
Apart from this, 2,239 tons of rice, Tk37.41 lakh, 3,620 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 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 4,715 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 23 deaths occurred mainly due to drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.
