DHAKA, July 19, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation worsened in the Ganges Basin due to the incessant onrush of water coming from upper catchments, but it is improving in Brahmaputra basin.
Rising trend of water level was recorded at almost all points, including Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge, in the last 24 hours ending 9 am today, said Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) executive engineer Kohinur Islam told BSS.
The water level of the Ganges River went up five centimeter and 11 cm at Pankha and Rajshahi points respectively during the last 24 hours but it was flowing 187 cm and 195 cm below the danger level.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the Atrai River is flowing 16 cm below the danger level at Atrai point this morning.
Of the 13 river points monitored in eight districts under Rajshahi division, water levels increased at six stations, while decreased at seven stations in last 24 hours, he said.
Bhuiyan added the water level of the Jamuna River was flowing above danger mark at Sariakandi point in Bogura, and Kazipur and Sirajganj stations.
The Gur River was also flowing 53 cm above the danger mark at Singra point in Natore while the Atrai River flowing 100 cm above the danger mark at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district.
Many areas were inundated due to the damage of flood control embankments at different points of Atrai, Raninagar and Manda upazilas in Naogaon and Bagmara Upazila in Rajshahi district.
About 50 villages of Atrai upazila have been affected due to devouring of flood control embankments caused by fresh flood in the Atrai River.
“We are preparing a list of the flood victims and assessing the losses and damages wrecked by the deluge,” said Sanaul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, adding that relief materials are also being distributed among the affected people.
Except Kurigram, the flood situation is improving with further fall in water levels of major rivers despite heavy rainfalls in most of the northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin, BSS Rangpur correspondent reports.
Water levels of all major rivers decreased with reduction of onrushing hilly water from the upper catchment in the basin.
About 121 mm rainfall was recorded at Dalia in Nilphamari, while 110 mm at Kurigram, 105 mm at Rangpur, 110 mm at Thakurgaon and 81mm at Panchagarh unto 1:40 pm today.
BWDB officials said the Brahmaputra was flowing 44 cm above the danger level at Noonkhawa and 62 cm at Chilmari, while the Dharla 45cm above at Kurigram at 9 am, following further fall in water levels.
The Jamuna was flowing 85 cm above the danger level at Fulchhari, 92 cm at Bahadurabad, 98 cm at Sariakandi, 91 cm at Kazipur and 81 cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Executive Engineers Mehedi Hasan for BWDB’s Rangpur Division and Mokhlesur Rahman for its Gaibandha division said the flood situation continues improving as water levels of major rivers were falling in these districts.
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Due to heavy rainfall in Kurigram today, flood situation deteriorated there. About 200 mm rainfall was recorded in last 24 hours (3pm on Saturday to 3 pm Sunday), BSS Kurigram correspondent reports.
In Faridpur, 22 meters of town protection embankment in Bilgozaria area of Sadiqpur village in Sadar upazila collapsed today due to the rise in floodwater.
BWDB executive engineer Sultan Mahmud said they visited the spot and were trying to protect the embankment.
BSS Tangail correspondent adds: The current of floodwater collapsed a bridge in Chanakpara area in Tangail yesterday, disputing road communication on Basail-Kanchanpur road.
Of the 101 river points monitored in the country, water levels increased at 56 stations, while decreased at 49 stations and remained stable at six points.