RANGPUR, July 25, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation continued to deteriorate as water levels of major rivers marked little rise despite fall in the rate of onrushing hilly water in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said water levels of major rivers marked insignificant rise at most points deteriorating the flood situation during the period with a possibility of continuation of the trend in the next 24 hours.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of BWDB sources, the recorded rainfalls were only 36mm at Darjeeling point in West Bengal and 21mm at Silchar point in Assam in the upstream during the last 24 hours till 9 am today.
The major rivers were flowing above the danger mark (DM) at ten points in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts at 9 am today with the possibility of little deterioration during the next 24 hours in the basin.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked rise by 3cm each at Noonkhawa and 51cm at Chilmari points during the period and was flowing above the DM by 65cm and 77cm respectively at these points at 9 am today.
Water level of the Dharla was flowing above the DM by 62cm at Kurigram and 75cm at Gaibandha at 9 am.
The Jamuna was flowing above the DM by 104cm at Fulchhari, 110cm at Bahadurabad, 117cm at Sariakandi, 94cm at Kazipur and 83cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh predicted a deterioration of the flood situation at lower rate during the next 24 hours despite less monsoon rains in the upstream.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur agriculture region said floodwaters submerged standing crops on 12,244 hectares of land in 30 affected upazilas of all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region.
Talking to BSS, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the administrations with local public representatives have intensified relief activities in the flood-hit northern districts in Rangpur division.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said the second phase of the deluge has affected over 2.50 lakh people of 62,630 families in all nine upazilas of the district.
“We are continuing 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 flood-affected people of the district,” he said.
Gaibandha DRRO 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.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said 713 medical teams are extending health services and medicines to the people residing in flood-prone and other rural areas across Rangpur division.
Similarly, the district administrations in association with local public representatives have been reaching relief materials and other essential goods to the flood-hit people in the Brahmaputra basin.