River levels rising as flood threat looms over several districts
The Khowai River at Balla point in Habiganj remained the worst affected, flowing 192cm above the danger level.
Highlights:
- River levels exceed danger mark at 10 monitoring stations
- Teesta may cross danger level within 48 hours
- Heavy rain raises landslide risk in Chattogram hills
- Up to 350mm rainfall forecast for Bandarban, Cox's Bazar
- Sangu and Matamuhuri flood situation likely to persist
Floodwaters may spread further across Bangladesh's southeast, northeast and northern regions over the next two to three days as continuous heavy upstream rainfall and fresh rain keep pushing up river levels, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) also forecast heavy rainfall in parts of the country over the next 24 hours, warning that the downpour could trigger landslides in the hilly areas of Chattogram division and cause temporary water-logging in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas.
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According to the flood forecast centre's latest flood outlook, water at 10 monitoring stations on six rivers in Bandarban, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj was flowing above the danger level yesterday.
The Khowai River at Balla point in Habiganj remained the worst affected, flowing 192cm above the danger level.
The Manu River was flowing 73cm and 69cm above the danger level at two monitoring points, while the Matamuhuri River at Chiringa was 77cm above.
The Matamuhuri River at Lama in Bandarban was 164cm above the danger level, while the Sangu River at Bandarban was 105cm above.
The Kushiyara River at Markuli, the Dhalai River at Kalmakanda and the Sangu River at Dohazari were flowing 15cm, 5cm and 16cm above the danger level respectively.
Meanwhile, the Teesta River may reach or exceed the danger level within the next 24 to 48 hours, flooding the low-lying areas adjacent to rivers in the Teesta basin.
The flood warning centre said heavy to very heavy rainfall over the past three days in Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions, along with rainfall in India's Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal, has contributed to the rising water levels.
During the period, 815mm of rainfall was recorded in Chattogram, 518mm in Lama and 330mm in Cox's Bazar. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to continue in these areas over the next two days.
According to the outlook, flooding in the Sangu and Matamuhuri river basins in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar may continue for the next 24 to 48 hours.
Water levels in the Khowai, Manu and Dhalai rivers in Habiganj and Moulvibazar are expected to remain stable, but several rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur and Mymensingh may continue to rise.
The centre forecast up to 300-350mm of rainfall in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar over the next three days, and 250-300mm in Chattogram, Feni, Lakshmipur and Noakhali.
Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram may receive 100-150mm of rainfall.
The centre also warned of short-term flooding in parts of the Muhuri, Feni, Silonia and Halda river basins in Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari.
Meanwhile, at least 25 villages in Habiganj have been flooded after an embankment on the Khowai River breached due to continuous rainfall and upstream runoff.
The breach occurred around 10pm on Thursday in the Kaliganj-Charhamua area of Habiganj Sadar upazila, allowing floodwater to enter surrounding villages.
Hundreds of families have been affected as water inundated homes and low-lying areas. The Habiganj-Mirpur regional road has also gone underwater, disrupting traffic.
In Chattogram, heavy rainfall and hill runoff have submerged large parts of the southern region. Water has overflowed onto the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway in the Hasimpur and Dohazari Bottola areas of Chandanaish upazila, disrupting vehicular movement. Local people were also seen catching fish in water accumulated on the highway.
