ZCZC
BSS-12
IMPROVEMENT-FLOOD-EROSION (with picture)
Further improvement of flood situation in B’putra basin
RANGPUR, Aug 8, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation improved further during
the last 24 hours ending at 9am today amid incidents of sporadic riverbank
erosion due to stronger current with sharp fall in water levels of major
rivers in the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said major rivers were
flowing well below the danger mark at all monitoring points in eight deluge-
affected northern districts where many displaced people already returned
homes.
Meanwhile, the government through the district administrations has further
intensified relief activities in flood affected areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari,
Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts in
the basin.
Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad
Ghosh said incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from
around 55 points alongside the major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha and
Lalmonirhat districts.
“All flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe under the
BWDB’s Rangpur zone where riverbank protection works continuing at some 50
points and the same will begin at other vulnerable points soon,” he said.
Following further sharp falls in their water levels, the Brahmaputra was
flowing below its danger mark by 110cm at Noonkhawa and 66cm at Chilmari
while Dharla by 99cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 36cm at Gaibandha points and
the Jamuna was flowing below its danger mark by 47cm at Fulchhari, 42cm at
Bahadurabad, 20cm at Sariakandi, 31cm at Kazipur and 13cm at Sirajganj points
at 9 am today.
The Teesta was flowing below the danger mark by 30cm at Dalia point in
Nilphamari and 49cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur while Karota was flowing below
the danger mark by 87cm at Chak Rahimpur point during the same period.
Talking to BSS, Executive Engineer of BWDB for its Kurigram Division Ariful
Islam said riverbank protection works are continuing at 35 vulnerable points
alongside major rivers in the district.
Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha division of BWDB said
riverbank protection works are continuing at some 15 six points and will
begin the same at few other vulnerable points soon alongside major rivers in
the district.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Gaibandha Moazzem
Hossain said distribution of 545 tonnes of rice, Taka 13.50 lakh, 7,650
packets of dry foods, Taka six lakh for baby foods and Taka 12 lakh for
animal fodders continues among 2.50 lakh flood-hit people in the district.
Kurigram DRRO Abdul Hye Sarker said distribution of 300 tonnes of rice,
Taka 13 lakh, 8,000 packets of dry foods, Taka six lakh for baby foods and
Taka nine lakh animal fodders continues among over 2.50 lakh flood-affected
people in the district.
Similarly, the government continues relief activities in other flood-
affected northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin where normalcy started
returning with continuous improvement of the flood situation.
Talking to BSS today, Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said
a total of 713 medical teams have been extending health and medicare services
to the flood-affected people in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic in the division.
BSS/ASG/MI/SSS/1320 hrs