ZCZC
BSS-37
FLOOD-B’PUTRA BASIN (with picture)
Flood situation worsens further in B’putra basin
RANGPUR, July 24, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation worsened further
today following inundation of fresh areas as major rivers, excepting
Dharla and Teesta, marked rise to flow above their danger marks (DM)
at ten points in the Brahmaputra basin.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) said the
situation worsened in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and
Sirajganj while remained mostly steady in Rangpur, Nilphamari and
Lalmonirhat during the past 24 hours till 9 am today.
The district administration sources said around 7.50 lakh people of
some 1.90 lakh families have been affected by floodwaters and standing
crops submerged in flood-affected areas.
“Many flood-hit people have taken shelters at flood shelters,
embankments, institutions and the administrations have enhanced
evacuation and relief activities in affected areas of Rangpur
division,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Zakir Hossain
said.
According to BWDB sources, the Brahmaputra was flowing 62cm above
the DM at Noonkhawa and 74cm at Chilmari, Dharla by 80cm at Kurigram,
Ghagot by 73cm at Gaibandha and Kartoa by 44cm above the DM at Chak
Rahimpur points at 9 am today.
The Jamuna was flowing 101cm above the DM at Fulchhari in Gaibandha,
107cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 111cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 88cm
at Kazipur and 78cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said
adequate steps have been taken to ensure safety of flood control
embankments and structures and protection works of erosion-hit
riverbanks are continuing at vulnerable points in the zone.
Ghosh predicted a possibility of a third phase of the deluge during
this season after recession of floodwaters of the current second phase
to prolong the flood situation in the Brahmaputra basin and other
areas in the major river systems of the country.
Meanwhile, floodwaters have submerged standing crops on 12,244
hectares of land in flood-affected 30 upazilas of Rangpur, Kurigram,
Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts alone under Rangpur
agriculture region in the basin.
Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said the
government has taken massive steps to help in recouping possible crop
losses considering a prolonged flood this year.
Officials of the DAE and other agriculture related organisations are
suggesting flood-hit farmers for preparing Aman rice seedbeds anew for
transplantation of seedlings till August and cultivating substitute
crops after recession of floodwaters.
“The DAE has started preparing community level seedbeds of Aman rice
on 221 acres of land in affected unions or villages to distribute
produced seedlings free among flood-hit farmers locally at their own
areas after recession of floodwaters,” Ali added.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Gaibandha
Moazzem Hossain said distribution of 330 tonnes of rice, Taka eight
lakh, 5,650 packets of dry foods, Taka two lakh for baby foods and
Taka four lakh for animal fodders continues among 1.46-lakh flood-hit
people of the district.
Acting DRRO of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said distribution of 190
tonnes of rice, Taka nine lakh, 6,000 packets of dry foods, Taka two
lakh for baby foods and Taka four lakh for animal fodders continues
among 2.46 lakh flood-hit people of the district.
“Some 3,856 affected families have taken shelters at 132 flood
shelters and 970 families at embankments in the district where 3.04
lakh water purifying tablets and 429 kgs of bleaching powders have
been distributed so far among affected people,” he said.
Besides, 290 new tube wells have been set up, 699 repaired and
2,220 tube wells disinfected and 353 sanitary latrines set up in the
flood-hit areas of Kurigram district.
Similarly, the district administrations have taken massive steps in
other affected districts to stand beside the flood-hit people in the
Brahmaputra basin.
BSS/ASG/MI/MRU/1825hrs