ZCZC
BSS-09
FLOOD-SITUATION-RANGPUR (with picture)
Water levels of major rivers in Brahmaputra basin falling
RANGPUR, Sept 20, 2020 (BSS) – Water levels of major rivers marked fall at most points amid no monsoons rains in the upstream during the last 24 hours improving the flood-like situation in the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion were reported from some vulnerable points in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts in the basin.
Water levels of all major rivers marked fall at all points following further reduction in the rate of onrushing water from the upper catchment areas in the northeastern Indian states in the basin whereas no monsoon rains showered during the last 24 hours.
However, water levels of the Jamuna were still flowing above the danger mark (DM) at Sariakandi point in Bogura at 9am today despite a fall by 10cm there during the last 24 hours.
On the other hand, water levels of the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Karota and Jamuna were flowing below their respective danger marks at all other monitoring points of BWDB in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts at 9 am.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked fall by 10cm each at Noonkhawa and Chilmari while Dharla by 15cm at Kurigram and Ghagot by 7cm at Gaibandha points during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today.
Water levels of the Kartoa marked rise by 29cm at Chak Rahimpur while Jamuna marked fall by 11cm at Fulchhari, 12cm at Bahadurabad, 13cm at Kazipur and 6cm at Sirajganj points during the period.
Besides, the Teesta marked a rise by 5cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari while a while fall by 3cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur during the same period.
The Dharla was flowing below the DM by 4cm at Kurigram and Jamuna by 33cm at Fulchhari, 31cm, 6cm at Kazipur and 10cm at Sirajganj points in the basin at 9am today.
The Brahmaputra was flowing below the DM by 82cm at Noonkhawa and 39cm at Chilmari while Ghaghot by 62cm at Gaibandha and Kartoa was flowing below the DM by 18cm at Chak Rahimpur points at 9 am today.
“Water levels of the Teesta were flowing below the DM by 45cm at Dalia and 35cm at Kawnia points at 9 am today,” said Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project Division of BWDB M Rabiul Islam.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said the flood-like situation is showing an improving trend that might continue during the next 24 hours in the basin.
“All flood control embankments are remaining safe under Rangpur zone of BWDB while some sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion have been reported from fewer places alongside major rivers and riverbank protection works are continuing at places,” he said.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the fourth phase of the deluge has submerged standing crops on 5,858 hectares of land in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts in Rangpur agriculture region.
“However, the extent of crop damages might be very little as the floodwaters are reseeding speedily within three to four days of submergence now,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali told BSS today.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Zakir Hossain said floodwaters are receding now from the low-lying areas where a flood-like situation was created by monsoon rains and the district administrations are closely monitoring the situation.
BSS/ASG/MI/MR/MMA/1333HRS