Increased water levels have left families living alongside the rivers in four districts of the Rangpur division marooned.
Continuous heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have triggered widespread flooding across Kurigram. The flash flood has also inundated the low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, leaving 25,000 people stranded.
Floodwaters have submerged vast stretches of low-lying areas and riverbanks, inundating paddy, peanut, and chilli fields. Residents are growing increasingly anxious, not only about the rising waters but also the looming threat of riverbank erosion.
Kurigram Water Development Board reported that, while water levels in the Dharla, Brahmaputra, and Dudhkumar rivers remain below the danger mark, the Teesta River at the Kaunia point has surged 33 centimetres above the danger level.
The Teesta's water levels are expected to begin receding by this evening, said Raqibul Hasan, executive engineer of the Kurigram Water Development Board. However, he warned that other rivers in the region are unlikely to fall below danger levels soon.
The flooding has severely affected six unions in the Rajarhat, Ulipur, and Chilmari upazilas, where over a hundred homesteads and rural roads have been submerged along the Teesta’s banks.
Around 500 families are currently stranded by the rising waters, said Khadija Begum, Rajarhat upazila nirbahi officer, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Many residents are in need of immediate assistance.
The situation is also grim in Nilphamari. Umme Salma, Upazilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Dimla Upazilla, told Dhaka Tribune that around 4,000 people are stranded in the district.
In Lalmonirhat, the flood protection embankments are at risk due to strong current in rivers.
HM Rakib Haider, deputy commissioner of the district, said they are trying to mitigate the risk with Geo bags and are constantly monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Md Mohibul Haque, UNO of Kaunia Upazilla in Rangpur told Dhaka Tribune that he has visited several unions and is constantly monitoring the situation on the ground. He said that the shelter houses have been kept ready in the upazila.
Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) in its evening bulletin said that the water level of Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division is increasing. It said that Teesta was flowing above the danger level at Kaunia point in Rangpur district yesterday and on the other hand water of Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers were flowing below the danger level.
According to meteorological agencies, the trend of very heavy rain has decreased in Rangpur division and adjacent uplands. The water level of Teesta, Dharlaand Dudhkumar rivers may remain stable for the next 24 hours and may decrease in the next two days.
In the next 24 hours, the flood situation may remain stable in the grasslands and
some low-lying areas along Teesta in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts.
