ZCZC
BSS-53
FLOOD-SITUATION-COUNTRY
Flood may further worsen in 14 districts
DHAKA, July 14, 2020 (BSS) – Thousands of people have been marooned in 20 northern, northeaster and central regions of the country in the second phase of floods this season due to onrush of upstream water and heavy rainfall in the last several days while it may further worsen in 14 districts by tomorrow (Wednesday).
FFWC predicted the overall flood situation may further worsen in northern districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha and Dinajpur, northwestern Natore and Naogaon, north-central Bogura, Jamalpur, Sirajganj and Tangail and central districts of Munshiganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rajbari and Dhaka in the next 24 hours.
Water levels of major rivers were flowing above the danger marks (DMs) at 23 points – 15 in Brahmaputra basin, six in the upper Meghna and two in Padma basin till 9am today while water levels at 64 river stations out of total 101, monitored by FFWC, marked a rise while 34 stations recorded fall and three others remained steady during that period.
The water levels of major rivers in both Ganges-Padma and Brahmaputra-Jamuna basins were in rising trend till 9am and it may continue in the next 72 hours while river Jamuna may cross its danger mark at Aricha point in the next 24 hours.
In the upper Meghna basin, major rivers in the northeastern region except Kushiyara were in rising trend till 9am today and it may continue in the next 48 hours, so the flood situation may improve in northeastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona in the next 24 hours.
In the upper Brahmaputra basin, the flood situation marked significant improvement alongside the Teesta in Nilphamari during the period and deteriorated in three upazilas of Rangpur and adjoining Lalmonirhat districts.
“The Teesta marked a sharp fall of 69cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and was flowing there below the danger mark (DM) by 25cm at 9am today,” Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) division of BWDB Rabiul Islam told BSS.
As a result, floodwaters mostly receded from the inundated vast low-lying and char areas of Dimla upazila in Nilphamari and adjoining Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Patgram and Aditmari upazilas in Lalmonirhat during the period.
The second phase of flood of the current season has already affected 20 districts and it could affect 4-5 more districts in the next several days while the deluge may continue at a stretch till the end of this month and it could prolong in the next month too on the basis of rainfall with water levels of major rivers remaining above danger marks, according to BWDB officials.
Northern regions in the upper Brahmaputra basins are witnessing a further deteriorated situation with over five lakh people marooned in seven northern districts.
Major rivers were flowing above danger marks (DM) at 10 points in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj at 9 am today due to an increase rate of onrushing water from the upstream and heavy rainfall inundating fresh areas during the period, BWDB officials said.
The flood situation in northeastern districts of Sunamganj, Sylhet and Netrokona remained static as the water levels of major rivers marked fall or remained steady in the last 24 hours till 9am today.
The Brahmaputra was flowing 85cm above the DM at Noonkhawa and 90cm at Chilmari and Dharla by 102cm at Kurigram and Ghagot by 64cm above the DM at Gaibandha at 9 am today, according to BWDB officials.
The Jamuna was flowing 101cm above the DM at Fulchhari in Gaibandha, 99cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 83cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 69cm at Kazipur and 39cm at Sirajganj at 9 am.
The Teesta was flowing 8cm above the DM at Kawnia point in the juncture of Rangpur and Lalmonirhat distrust at 9 am today deteriorating the flood situation in some parts of these districts.
Riverbank protection works are continuing at several vulnerable points in these districts, said BWDB officials.
Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said water levels of the Teesta and Dharla might start receding in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the next 24 hours.
“The flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe in Rangpur zone of BWDB in Rangpur division,” Ghosh said, adding that riverbank protection works are continuing now at around 50 points under the zone.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said district administrations have intensified distribution of relief goods among affected people in the floods-hit areas of Rangpur division during this second phase of the deluge.
MORE/ MKD/GA/1954 hrs