Floodwater continues receding in Brahmaputra basin

Floodwater continued receding from the inundated low-lying and riverine char areas further improving flood situation in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Officials said water levels of all major rivers marked further sharp falls following a continuous reduction in the rate of onrushing water from upstream during the period.

Water levels of all rivers were flowing below their respective danger marks (DM) at all monitoring points of BWDB in the basin at 9 am today.

Meanwhile, incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion are being reported from several areas alongside major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts.

"Riverbank protection works are continuing at some vulnerable points where flood situation may continue to improve further during the next 24 hours," Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Md. Mahbubur Rahman told BSS.

Water levels of the Teesta marked a fall of 30cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur and 10cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari during the last 24 hours.

"The Teesta was flowing 35cm below DM at Kawnia point and 55cm below DM at Dalia point at 9am today," The Chief Engineer said.

Following further sharp falls in their water levels, the Dharla was flowing below DM by 235cm at Kurigram while Dudhkumar was flowing below DM by 95cm at Patweshari point in Kurigram at 9am today.
 
The Brahmaputra was flowing below DM by 264cm at Noonkhawa, 304cm at Hatia and 268cm at Chilmari points in Kurigram at 9 am today.

The Jamuna was flowing below DM by 291cm at Fulchhari, 230cm at Shaghata, 262cm at Bahadurabad, 238cm at Sariakandi, 253cm at Kazipur and 220cm at Sirajganj points in the basin at 9 am today. 

"Water levels of major rivers are falling rapidly to improve the flood situation in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts under BWDB's Rangpur zone,' Rahman said.

Acting Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md. Azmal Hossain said the district administrations are conducting relief activities to stand beside the flood-hit people of affected districts and mitigate their sufferings despite improving flood situation.

The BWDB officials, district and upazila administrations are closely monitoring the flood and river erosion situation in deluge-prone areas in all five districts of Rangpur division.

"The Deputy Commissioners and UNOs are visiting the affected areas with officials of other departments concerned despite the improving flood situation in flood-hit districts," he added.

Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for Rangpur region Md. Obaidur Rahman Mondal said that standing crops in 1,432 hectares of lands were submerged in 17 upazilas of five districts in greater Rangpur this time.

"According to reports reaching here from the affected areas, floodwater has already receded from most of the submerged crops fields in low-lying and char areas of Rangpur Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts in the region," he said.

"The extent of crop damages would be the minimum as floodwaters are receding fast within only two to three days since submergence of croplands this time," he added.