ZCZC
BSS-21
FLOOD-B’PUTRA BASIN (with picture)
Flood situation improves further in B’putra basin
RANGPUR, July 31, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation marked further improvement during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today with continuous fall in water levels of major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said major rivers were still flowing above the danger mark (DM) at eight points in five northern districts from where sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion were reported during the period.
Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion were reported from vulnerable points alongside the major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts.
“All flood control embankments and structures remain safe in the flood-hit districts under the BWDB’s Rangpur zone where riverbank protection works are continuing at some points and the same will begin at other vulnerable points soon,” he said.
The Brahmaputra was flowing above the DM by 15cm at Chilmari while Dharla by 34cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 23cm at Gaibandha points at 9 am today.
The Jamuna was flowing above the DM by 37cm at Fulchhari, 48cm at Bahadurabad, 55cm at Sariakandi, 33cm at Kazipur and 38cm at Sirajganj points while the Teesta was flowing below the DM by 10cm at Dalia and 24cm at Kawnia points at 9 am today.
Talking to BSS, Executive Engineer of BWDB for Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions Ariful Islam said riverbank protection works are continuing at several vulnerable points in these two districts where protection works are continuing now.
Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha division of BWDB said riverbank protection works are continuing in full swing at a few points and the same will begin at some other points soon after recession of floodwaters.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the district administrations have further intensified distribution of relief goods, baby foods, animal fodders and cash money among the flood-hit people of the affected districts in Rangpur division.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker told BSS that the second phase flood has affected over 2.50 lakh people of 62,630 families in the district.
“We are distributing 190 tonnes of rice, Taka 13 lakh, 8,000 packets of dry foods, Taka six lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh for animal fodders among flood-affected people in three upazilas of the district,” he said.
Gaibandha DRRO Moazzem Hossain said more than 2.50 lakh people of over 60,000 families have been affected by the second phase of the deluge in the district.
“We are distributing 440 tonnes of rice, Taka eight lakh, 6,650 packets of dry foods, Taka four lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh for animal fodders among flood-hit people in the district,” Hossain said.
Similarly, massive relief activities are continuing in affected areas of other northern districts of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Jamalpur and Sirajganj in the Brahmaputra basin.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said assessment of crop damages continues in five districts of Rangpur agriculture region where floodwaters submerged standings crops on 12,294 hectares of land.
BSS/ASG/MI/GA/1654 HRS