RAJSHAHI, Sept 11, 2020 (BSS) – The overall flood situation in the Ganges basin remained steady today too like the previous couple of days as water level in its rivers and tributaries recorded declining or rising trends this morning.
Of the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels increased at 16 points while decreased at 13 points and remained steady at one point, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points while above the danger level at one point like the previous couple of days.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded rising and falling trends in many rivers, including Korotoa, Atrai, Mohananda, Ganges, Padma and the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin today, Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB, told BSS this morning.
He, however, said water level of the Ganges River declined by 21 centimeters (cm) further at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 13 cm at Rajshahi, nine cm at Hardinge Bridge and 11 cm at Talbaria points at 9 am today. Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was still flowing 248 cm, 238 cm, 174 cm and 149 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River increased by four cm afresh at Goalundo point and it was flowing 37 cm below the danger level at the point this morning, he added. Water level in the Korotoa River remained steady at Chak Rahimpur, while gone up by nine cm at Bogura points and the river was still flowing 196 cm and 220 cm below the danger level respectively this morning.
The Gur River went up by one cm further at Singra in Natore, while the Atrai River went up by seven cm at Baghabari in Sirajgonj today.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a falling has been recorded at three points, while rising trend at another three points of the Jamuna River this morning.
The water level went up by five cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, eight cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 13 cm at Sirajganj points afresh. The Jamuna River was still flowing 62 cm, 45 cm and 61 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
The Little Jamuna River also went up by seven cm at Naogaon, while the Atrai River by 52 cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon and by seven cm at Atrai points this morning.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels increased at nine points and declined at six points and remained steady at one point.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points this morning.
Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began. The government has brought around 2.17 lakh flood-affected families under the distribution of relief materials to lessen their financial hardships in the affected areas in Rajshahi division.
As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has, so far, allocated 1,547 tonnes of rice, Taka 38.10 lakh in cash, 16,580 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 40 lakh for animal feed. Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is on the final stage.
Apart from this, 2,239 tonnes of rice, Taka 37.41 lakh, 3,620 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby food and Taka five lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood affected people amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Some 4,923 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 23 deaths occurred mainly due to drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.