DHAKA, July 21, 2020 (BSS) – Flood situation has further deteriorated in Meghna basin due to the onrush of water from the upstream.
Water levels of the major rivers in Sylhet and Sunamganj have been rising fast since yesterday (July 20), said officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Water was flowing 80 cm above the danger level at Kanaighat point of Surma River at 3 pm today (Tuesday), while the river was flowing 3 cm bellow the danger mark at Sylhet point, according to the data of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
Kushiyara was flowing 47 cm above danger level at Fenchuganj point at 3 pm today. Besides, the water level of Kushiyara went up at Amalshed, Shewla and Sherpur points.
All major rivers in Sunamganj were flowing above the danger levels at 3 pm today. Surma River was flowing 32 cm above the danger level at Sholaghar point of Sunamganj sadar while 1.61 metre above at Chatak point.
The water level of Kalni River in Dirai upazila of the district is flowing 18 cm above the danger level, while Jadukata River in Tahirpur upazila was flowing 74 cm above the danger mark.
BWDB executive engineer (Sunamganj) Sabibur Rahman said due to rise of water level in the Surma River, all rivers of the district are flowing above the danger marks.
He feared that the onrush of hilly water will further deteriorate flood situation in the district.
In Ganges basin, water levels increased due to heavy downpour and onrush from the upstream, deteriorating flood situation in chars and low-lying areas there.
The rising trend of water was recorded at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria and Goalanda points in the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today, BWDB superintending engineer Mukhlesur Rahman said.
The water level of Ganges River further increased by one centimeter (CM) and two cm at Pankha point in Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi station respectively during the last 24 hours, but was flowing 184 cm and 188 cm below the danger levels at the two stations, he added.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the water level of Atrai River increased by 106 cm at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon but it was flowing 129 cm below the danger mark at Atrai point this morning.
Of the 13 river points monitored in Rajshahi division, water levels increased at nine stations, while decreased at three stations and remained stable at one point in the last 24 hours.
BWDB officials said the water levels of major rivers in Brahmaputra River, except Teesta, marked further fall today due to dwindling of the onrush of hilly water from the upper catchment.
However, they said, the flood situation may deteriorate in the basin in next 48 to 72 hours.
Around 390 mm rainfall was recorded at Cherrapunji, while 143 mm at Shillong and 74 mm at Pasighat points in northwestern Indian states in the upstream during the last 24 hours ending 9 am today, according to the data of BWDB.
The major rivers were flowing above the danger level at 10 points in the Brahmaputra basin at 9 am today.
Despite further fall in water levels during the last 24 hours, the Brahmaputra was flowing 26 cm above the danger level at Noonkhawa, while 42 cm above at Chilmari.
The Dharla was flowing 35 cm above the danger mark at Kurigram point.
The Jamuna was flowing 72 cm above the danger level at Fulchhari, while 78 cm above at Bahadurabad point, 88 cm at Sariakandi point, 74 cm at Kazipur point and 69 cm above at Sirajganj point.
However, the Teesta marked a sharp rise by 58 cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari during the last 24 hours and was flowing 20 cm above the danger level at 9 am today.