ZCZC
BSS-27
FLOOD-B’PUTRA-BASIN (with picture)
Flood situation being created in Brahmaputra basin
RANGPUR, July 11, 2020 (BSS) – A flood situation is being created following continuous rise in water levels of major rivers marooning around one lakh people in the low-lying riverine areas of the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of all major rivers might continue rising due to huge onrush of water amid heavy monsoon rains from the upper catchment in the basin during the next 24 hours.
Executive Engineer of BWDB’s Rangpur division Mehedi Hasan told BSS that the Teesta river crossed its danger mark for the first time this season at Kawnia point of Rangpur and was flowing 2cm above the danger mark there at 3 pm today.
Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) division of BWDB Rabiul Islam said the Teesta was flowing 28cm above the danger mark at Dalia point in Nilphamari district at 3 pm.
Executive Engineer of BWDB for Gaibandha division Mokhlesur Rahman said the Teesta was flowing 2cm above the danger mark at Sundarganj point during the same time.
Executive Engineer for Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions of BWDB Ariful Islam said the Dharla was flowing 7cm above the danger mark at Kurigram point at 3 pm.
BWDB officials said Brahmaputra was flowing little below its danger mark at Noonkhawa and Chilmari while Jamuna at its danger mark at Fulchhari and below the danger mark at Bahadurabad, Sariakandi and Kazipur and Sirajganj points at 3 pm today.
Officials in district administrations said one lakh people of some 25,000 families have again become marooned in the low-lying areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts during the last 24 hours.
According to the forecast of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB, water levels of major rivers might continue rising during the next 72 hours and cross the danger mark at some other points during the next 24 hours in the basin.
During the past 24 hours till 9am, 523mm rainfall was recorded at Cherrapunji, 148mm at Shillong, 93mm at Jalpaiguri and 54mm at Tezpur points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.
Due to huge onrush of water from the upstream, the Brahmaputra might cross its danger mark at Noonkhawa and Chilmari points and Jamuna at Bahadurabad, Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points during the next 24 hours.
While talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh today said water levels of the Dharla, Teesta, Brahmaputra and Jamuna might continue to rise further during the next 24 hours to inundate more low-lying areas again in the basin.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said 713 medical teams have been extending health and medicare services to the people residing in the flood-prone areas of Rangpur division.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the district administrations and BWDB are closely monitoring the situation to take instantaneous steps when and where necessary during this second phase of floods this season in the division.
BSS/ASG/MI/SSS/1741hrs