Flood situation deteriorates at places in Brahmaputra basin


FE Team | Published: July 16, 2020 17:19:49 | Updated: July 28, 2020 16:34:41


-Representational image

The flood situation deteriorated at places and remained mostly stable in other areas on Thursday as major rivers marked both rise and fall to flow above their danger marks (DM) at ten points in the Brahmaputra basin.

Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) said the situation worsened in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Sirajganj while continued improving in Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat during the past 24 hours till 9:00am today (Wednesday).

The flood situation might remain mostly stable in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj and continue to improve in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Nilphamari districts during the next 24 hours.

Officials of the district administration said around six lakh people are still remaining marooned by floodwaters in the low-lying and char areas along the riverbanks in the flood-affected northern districts.

According to BWDB sources, the Brahmaputra was flowing 93cm above the DM at Noonkhawa and 100cm at Chilmari and Dharla by 75cm at Kurigram and Ghagot by 93cm at Gaibandha and Kartoa by 6cm above the DM at Chak Rahimpur.

The Jamuna was flowing 124cm above the DM at Fulchhari in Gaibandha, 129cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 125cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 119cm at Kazipur and 90cm at Sirajganj at 9:00am.

The Teesta was flowing below the DM by 26cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and 53cm below the DM at Kawnia point in Rangpur at 9am today.

Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said that flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe and riverbank protection works are continuing at several vulnerable points in the zone.

“Water levels of the Teesta and Dharla might continue to recede in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Kurigram while Brahmaputra and Jamuna might mark fall and little rise at few points in the next 24 hours in the Brahmaputra basin,” he said.

Meanwhile, the district administrations have further intensified distribution of relief among the flood-hit people of Rangpur division.

Acting District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said 1.62 lakh people of 40,640 families of 448 villages in 56 unions of all nine upazilas have been affected by the flood in the district.

“The district administrations are continuing distribution of 170 tonnes of rice, Taka four lakh, 2,200 packets of dry foods, Taka two lakh each for baby foods and animal fodders among the flood-affected people of the district,” he added.

Gaibandha DRRO Mokhlesur Rahman said the current flood has affected 1.30-lakh people of 32,500 families in 26 unions of four upazilas of the district.

“We are distributing 210 tonnes of rice, Taka four lakh and 1,800 packets of dry foods allocated by the government continues among the flood-affected people in the district,” he said.

DRRO of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said distribution of 100 tonnes of rice, Taka four lakh 1,500 packets of dry foods and Taka two lakh for animal fodders continues among flood-hit people of the district.

“The floodwaters of the Teesta are receding from the inundated areas of Gangachara, Kawnia and Pirgachha upazilas where the displaced people already started returning home from today,” he added, reports BSS.

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