The flood situation in the northern districts of the country has been worsening as the water level of the river Padma was recorded at 18.67 metres on Friday morning against the 18.50 metre danger mark.
Harun-Ur-Rashid, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) identified five vulnerable points on the Rajshahi Town Protection embankment where the workers of WDB were working round the clock to check any breach or erosion.
He also expressed his worry at the continuous rise of water of the river Padma and said if this situation continues for a week or so, it will be very tough to control the situation.
Meanwhile, among the 73 river stations monitored by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC),
56 marked rises while 17 stations recorded falls in water levels on Friday. Seven were flowing above the danger level. In this situation, the river ports have been asked to hoist cautionary signal one.
According to the report, the Mohananda at Chapainawabganj, the Ganges at Pankha and Rajshahi, the Kobdak at Jhikargacha, the Gorai at Kamarkhali, the Khowai at Ballah and Habiganj are flowing above their respective danger levels by 23 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, 47 cm, 10 cm, 81 cm and 40 cm.
Meanwhile, another Met office bulletin said, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary South or South-Easterly gusty wind at a speed of 45-60kph is likely to occur over different parts of the country till 6 pm.
The regions are Rangpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, Tangail, Mymensingh, Jessore, Kushtia, Faridpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet.
On Friday, significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts over the last 24-hours ending at 6am.
A total of 147.5 mm rainfall was recorded at Panchagarh, 65mm at Sylhet, 43mm at Cox’s Bazar, 40mm at Lorergarh, 36mm at Barisal and 29mm at Kanaighat. At Rajshahi, with the increase of water level, thousands of people living in the low-lying areas of the city have taken shelter on the city protection embankment, and in schools.
Flood-hit people at Zia Nagar informed, the water of the river increased so rapidly that it entered their houses within a short time before they could even shift their belongings.
Many of the affected, who took shelter on various schools and on the embankments complained of not getting any relief.
They also alleged anomalies in distributing relief materials and said in some cases, all four to five members of a family got the relief whereas in many families did not get anything at all.
Shariful Islam Babu, mayor incharge at the Rajshahi City Corporation claimed, RCC has keeping a round the clock vigilance on the vulnerable points on the city embankments and relief goods were also being distributed properly.
