Low-lying areas in 5 districts may face temporary flooding: FFWC

Several low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona districts may experience temporary flooding as water levels in adjacent rivers rise, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has warned.

In a regular bulletin today (3 October), the FFWC, however, said that currently all major rivers across the country are flowing below their danger levels.

The bulletin said the water level of the Teesta River has risen in the past 24 hours, while the Dharla has declined, and the Dudhkumar remains stable. Over the next three days, these rivers may continue to rise, with the Teesta potentially flowing close to the danger level. As a result, low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari may face temporary flooding.

Similarly, in Mymensingh division, the water levels of the Someshwari and Bhogai rivers have risen while the Kongsho remains stable. These rivers are also expected to rise further in the coming days, possibly reaching danger levels and temporarily inundating low-lying areas in Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona districts.

Citing the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the water development board said the deep depression formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining west-central Bay crossed Odisha–Andhra Pradesh coasts of India last night and now lies over adjacent areas as a land depression.

Meanwhile, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal no 3, according to a Met office bulletin.

Besides, the Karatoa, Jamuneswari, Purnobhaba, and Tangon rivers in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions have shown rising trends, while the Atrai, Mahananda, and Ghagot rivers have declined. Water levels in these rivers are likely to increase rapidly in the next three days, said BWDB.

Tidal rivers in coastal areas of Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions are experiencing higher-than-usual tides, which may continue for another day.

Light to moderate rain, thundershowers likely

For the major river basins, it said water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers fell in the past 24 hours and are expected to continue receding over the next day before rising again for the following four days, though still remaining below danger levels.

The Ganges-Padma water levels also declined in the last 24 hours and are expected to decrease for another two days before rising in the next three days. The Surma-Kushiyara rivers, however, have continued to rise and are expected to increase further in the next three days.

In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded in parts of Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions and over the next three days (3 October 9am to 6 October 9am), heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, according to BMD.

In terms of rainfall, heavy showers were recorded in some parts of Sunamganj, Feni, Cox's Bazar, Barguna, and Sylhet districts in the past 24 hours.

The highest rainfall was recorded at Laurergarh in Sunamganj with 77mm, followed by Teknaf in Cox's Bazar with 71mm.