RANGPUR, Sept 17, 2020 (BSS) – A flood-like situation is being created due to continuous rise in water levels of major rivers inundating some low-lying and char areas of Kurigram in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of all major rivers might rise further due to huge onrush of water amid heavy monsoon rains from the upper catchment during the next 48 hours.
According to the forecast of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB, water levels of major rivers might rise during the next 48 hours due to heavy monsoons rains in the upper catchment of the northeastern Indian states.
During the past 24 hours till 9am today, the recorded rainfalls were 187mm at Cherrapunji, 131mm at Pasighat, 85mm at Dhubri and 57mm at Silchar points in the upstream of the Brahmaputra basin.
Besides, the recorded rainfalls during the period till 9am today were 186mm at Dinajpur, 130mm at Chilmari, 84mm at Rangpur, 132mm at Kurigram, 33mm at Kawnia and 28mm at Dalia points in the basin.
BWDB officials said water levels of the Brahmaputra might cross the danger mark (DM) at Noonkhawa and Chilmari points and Jamuna at Bahadurabad, Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points if the present rising trend continues during the next 48 hours.
“With further rise in its water level by 15cm, the Dharla was flowing 35cm above the DM at Kurigram at 9 pm today inundating some low-lying areas,” said Executive Engineer of Kurigram division of BWDB Md. Ariful Islam.
Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project division of BWDB Rabiul Islam said water levels of the Teesta rose by 3cm at Dalia and 15cm at Kawnia but were still flowing below the DM by 20cm and 23cm at these points respectively at 9 am.
Executive Engineer of BWDB for Gaibandha division Mokhlesur Rahman said water level of the Ghagot sharply rose by 34cm during the last 24 hours and was flowing 68cm below the DM at Gaibandha point at 9am.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked sharp rise by 35cm each at Noonkhawa and at Chilmari and Jamuneswari by 47cm at Badarganj points during the last 24 hours.
Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp rises by 33cm at Fulchhari, 29cm at Bahadurabad, 36cm at Sariakandi, 24cm at Kazipur and 29cm at Sirajganj points in Sirajganj during the period.
The Brahmanpara was flowing below the DM by 65cm at Noonkhawa and 38cm at Chilmari in Kurigram while Jamuneswari was flowing below the DM by 169cm at Badarganj in Rangpur at 9am.
The Jamuna was flowing 50cm below the DM at Fulchhari in Gaibandha, 58cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 29cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 30cm at Kazipur and 48cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said water levels of major rivers might continue to rise during the next 48 hours with a possibility of a short-term fourth time flood in the basin.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the district administrations and BWDB are closely monitoring the situation to take instantaneous steps if another flood situation arises.