ZCZC
BSS-34
FLOOD- AGGRAVATES-RANGPUR
Flood swamps fresh areas in Rangpur
RANGPUR, July 15, 2019 (BSS) – Flood situation deteriorated further today following inundation of fresh areas as major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin, except Teesta, marked flowing above danger level at 11 points.
Officials of Water Development Board (WDB) said the situation worsened in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj while remained mostly unchanged in Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat during the past 24 hours till 3 pm today.
The district administration sources said around seven lakh people have been affected by flood and sporadic erosion continues along the riverbanks in affected areas.
Many flood-hit people have taken refuge in flood shelter centers, on flood control embankments and educational institutions. Local administration has enhanced evacuation and relief activities in affected areas.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said floodwater has submerged standing crops on 5,794 hectares of land in 23 upazilas of Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts.
Besides, standing crops on 8,603 heaters of land have been inundated by floodwater in 14 unions of three upazilas in Bagura district.
Meanwhile, Acting Deputy Commissioners, UNOs, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officers (DRRO), WDB officials and local public representatives are visiting affected areas and distributing relief goods among flood-hit people.
Superintending Engineer (SE) of WDB for Rangpur Circle-1 Harun Ar Rashid said they are working round the clock to protect embankments from damage as major rivers were flowing above danger level at several points.
Water level of the Teesta receded by 20 cm in last 24 hours at Dalia point where the river was flowing at its danger mark level at 3 pm today, he said the river was flowing 2cm above the danger level at Kawnia point.
The Dharla was flowing 112cm above the danger mark at Kurigram, Brahmaputra by 79cm at Noonkhawa and 108cm above the danger mark at Chilmari points, he said.
Meanwhile, the Jamuna was flowing 112cm above the danger mark at Fulchhari and 78cm at Sariakandi and Ghaghot by 74cm above danger level at Gaibandha points at 3 pm.
On the other hand, the Jamuna was flowing 119cm above danger level at Bahadurabad, 45cm at Kazipur and 16cm above at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Talking to BSS, DRRO Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said the district administration has allocated 110 tonnes of rice and Taka three lakh for distribution among 17,500 affected families of three upazilas in the district.
DRRO of Kurigram Khairul Anam said the district administration continues distributing 280 tonnes of rice, 2,000 packets of dry foods and Taka 6.75 lakh among 2.94-lakh people of 390 affected villages in 55 unions of all nine upazilas in the district.
Gaibandha district administration has allocated 400 tonnes of rice, Taka 6.50 lakh and 2,000 packets of dry foods for distribution among 2.54 lakh flood-affected people of 213 villages in 26 unions of four upazilas in the district.
Nilphamari district administration has so far allocated 170 tonnes of rice, Taka 2.50 lakh and 2,000 packets of and dry foods for distribution among flood-affected people of Dimla upazila, said SA Hayat, DRRO of Nilphamari.
DRRO of Bagura Azhar Ali Mandal said district administration has allocated 142 tonnes of rice and 2,000 packets of dry foods for distribution among 66,800 flood-hit people of 98 villages in 14 unions of three upazilas in the district.
BSS/MI/AKH/1830hrs