2 lakh people impacted by waterlogging as Teesta overflows
The water level started rising early on Friday at Dalia Point in Nilphamari
Around two lakh people have been impacted by waterlogging in the Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts – as the Teesta River is flowing at 20 centimetres above the danger mark at Dalia Point in Nilphamari.
Sources said that the Teesta's water flowed five centimetres below the danger mark at Dalia Point at 6 pm on Thursday but then suddenly rose early on Friday.
The local meteorological office has recorded 240 millilitres of rainfall in the last 48 hours.
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After three days of continuous showers, the water level of all the rivers in the districts, including the Teesta, has risen and flooded the localities.
The overflow of water has damaged crops and seedbeds of Aman paddy. Fish farmers have also been severely affected as the fish were released from the ponds because of the flooding.
However, 44 gates of the Teesta barrage have been opened to control the upstream water.
Rajan Kumar Das, local union parishad chairman said, some 15,000 families in the char area had been impacted by waterlogging. The Teesta's floods have inundated their homes.
Floods have occurred in four upazilas of Lalmonirhat and about five thousand families in those areas were impacted by waterlogging as well, he added.
Rezaul Karim Manik of Kaliganj area in Lalmonirhat district said that 16 chars and villages in 15 unions of Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas have been flooded due to the rains in the last three days.
Sheikh Saadi, a local farmer of the area, said the seedbed of nut fields and Aman paddy in the Teesta char area had been submerged in knee-deep water.
Rabiaul Islam, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board, said the Teesta River was flowing at 20 centimetres above of the danger mark.
"All the gates of Teesta barrage have been opened. Teesta char areas in eight upazilas of Lalmonirhat have been inundated due to heavy rains and water from upstream of the Teesta River," he said.
He further said that the Teesta was flowing at 20 centimetres above the danger level at Hatibandha Doani Teesta Barrage Point in Lalmonirhat. The water flow was recorded at 52.80 centimetres at that point.
In Nilphamari, the Flood Forecast Warning Centre at the Dalia Water Development Board said, the Teesta River was flowing at 20 centimetres above the danger level at Dalia Point at 6am on Friday – the danger mark is 52.60 centimetres.
The administration has asked the union parishad members in the areas to enhance their vigilance.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said that many people were affected by the water level rise.
"Relief assistance is underway and we have also sought relief allocations from the government. The relief materials will shortly be delivered to severely-impacted people," he said.
