RAJSHAHI, Aug 22, 2020 (BSS) – Water level in many of the rivers in the
Ganges basin remained steady in wake of declining onrushing of floodwater
from upstream hilly catchment areas in the past 24 hours after rising for the
last couple of previous days.
“We have recorded both receding and rising trends in many of the rivers
including Mohananda, Ganges and Padma of the Ganges basin during the last 24
hours ending 9 am today,” said Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), here this morning.
Water level in the Ganges River increased by three centimeter (cm) at
Pankha in Chapainawabganj and two cm at Rajshahi points, while declined by
three cm at Hardinge Bridge and remained stable at Talbaria points at 9 am
today.
However, the Ganges River was flowing 166 cm, 183 cm, 109 cm and 78 cm
below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria
points respectively, while water level in the Padma River went up by two cm
afresh at Goalundo point and the river was flowing 27 cm above the danger
level at the point this morning, the Engineer added.
Water levels increased at 14 points while receded at 14 points and remained
stable at two points among the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin
today.
Apart from this, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 25
points, while above the danger level at five points.
Water level of the Korotoa River further declined by 11 cm and 12 cm at
Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura points respectively and the river was flowing 256
cm and 347 cm below the danger level at the two points respectively this
morning.
On the other hand, the local BWDB office has recorded both rising and
falling trends at all the three points of the Jamuna River today. The water
level declined by three cm at Sirajganj while increased by two cm afresh at
its Kazipur points and remained steady at Sariakandi in Bogura.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning
Centre (FFWC), said the Jamuna River was still flowing seven cm and 11 cm
below the danger level at Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively.
The Gur River was flowing 17 cm below the danger level at Singra in Natore
with a three cm fall afresh while the Atrai River was flowing 11 cm above the
danger level at Baghabari in Sirajganj point with one cm rise this morning.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being
monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels
decreased at 11 points while increased at three points and remained steady at
two points.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 14 points, while
above the danger mark at one point during the period.
Engineer Bhuiyan also said the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Ganges-Padma
rivers are in steady state which may continue until next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Additional Divisional Commissioner Moinul Islam said the
district and upazila administrations with the local public representatives
have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas
continuously since the flood situation began.
Around 2.16 lakh worst-affected families consisting around nine lakh people
have, so far, received relief materials to overcome their livelihood related
hardships caused by the flood in different districts under Rajshahi division.
The government, as part of its instant humanitarian support to cope with
the disastrous situation, has disbursed 1,507 tonnes of rice, Taka 31.42 lakh
in cash, 16,124 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 30
lakh for animal feed among the marooned people in the division.
Moinul Islam said there are more relief materials like 2,172.58 tonnes of
rice, Taka 41.08 lakh, 4,076 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby
food and Taka eight lakh for animal feed remained in stock for distribution
among the affected people.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible
measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected
people amid recession of the floodwater.
Some 3,531 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-
related diseases and 18 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and
snakebite since July 1, the sources added.