The flood situation deteriorated following a sharp rise in water levels of major rivers inundating low-lying areas of seven northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin, during the last 24 hours till at 9am on Saturday.
Officials in the district administrations said floodwaters inundated vast low-lying areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Bogra districts, marooning around 150,000 people.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said major rivers were flowing above their respective danger marks (DM) at eight points on Saturday, following continuous onrush of water amid heavy monsoon.
The Brahmaputra was flowing 13cm above its DM at Noonkhawa and 14cm at Chilmari and Dharla by 48cm at Kurigram, Teesta 12cm above the DM at Dalia and 1 cm at Kaunia, Jamuna was flowing 29cm above the DM at Fulchhari, 17cm at Bahadurabad and 9cm at Shariakandi points at 9am on Saturday.
According to Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB, the recorded rainfalls during the past 24 hours till 9am were 266mm at Cherrapunji, 145mm at Jalpaiguri, 128.2mm at Kailashahar, 53mm at Gangtok and 50mm at Shillong points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.
Water levels of major rivers might continue to rise during the next 24 hours to further deteriorate the flood situation in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra and Jamalpur districts.
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Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said water levels of major rivers are continuing to rise at all points in the Brahmaputra basin.
“There is no report of breaching of flood control embankments and structures anywhere in all eight districts of Rangpur division and we are closely monitoring flood situation and safety of flood control structures round the clock,” he said.
Besides, adequate steps have been taken to face any situation and conduct repair works and management of flood control structures on emergency basis anywhere in Rangpur division.
“BWDB officials are working to protect riverbanks at several vulnerable points alongside the Dharla, Ghaghot, Brahmaputra and Jamuna in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts,” Ghosh added.
Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) division of BWDB Rabiul Islam said flood situation alongside the Teesta River was likely to deteriorate in the next 24 hours.
Executive Engineer of BWDB Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha division said all flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe and riverbank protection works continuing at several vulnerable places in the district.
Executive Engineer Ariful Islam of BWDB for Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions said water levels of the Dharla and Brahmaputra are continuing to rise inundating fresh low-lying areas and the trend might continue during the next 24 hours in these districts.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said district administrations have taken necessary steps to shift marooned people to safer places and distribute aids in flood-affected areas of Rangpur division.
