Teesta flash flood starts improving in greater Rangpur district

Flash flood situation in the Teesta region started improving following sharp falls in water levels in the river Teesta, as there was no rainfall in the greater Rangpur district and the upstream region during the last 24 hours till 9:00am today.
 
Officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the water level of the Teesta marked sharp falls following a reduction of onrushing water from upstream during the period, and the trend would continue in the coming days.
 
No fresh areas were inundated anew as floodwater of the Teesta continued receding to improve the situation in affected low-lying and char areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts of greater Rangpur. 
 
However, some 20,000 flash flood-hit marooned people are still suffering in the inundated areas of these districts along the Teesta, although the floodwaters are receding to improve the situation continuously.
 
Meanwhile, riverbank erosion with unstable soil texture was reported from a few places along the Teesta River in the area during the last few days.
 
The district and upazila administrations have further intensified relief activities in the affected areas of flood-hit districts to stand beside the affected people and mitigate their sufferings.
 
Acting Chief Engineer of BWDB's Rangpur Zone Engineer Dr Mohd Sarfaraz Banda told BSS that the flood situation started improving as the rate of onrushing water from upstream significantly reduced during the last 24 hours in the Teesta River.
 
BWDB Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle, Md Ahsan Habib, said the Teesta flood situation would continue to improve following a reduction in the rate of onrushing water from the upstream Indian states amid less rainfall during the period.
 
"Following sharp falls in water levels during the last 24 hours, the Teesta was flowing below the danger mark by 16cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur and 45cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari at 9:00am today (7 October)," he said.
 
The Teesta, a fast-flowing river, due to its unique characteristics and high slope, experiences sudden increases and decreases in its water level over decades.
 
So, the sudden flood situation in this river and the rapid receding of flood waters always creates uncertainty among the riverside people as always. 
 
"As rainfall and rate of water flow from upstream are decreasing, floodwaters from the flooded areas will continue to recede and normal conditions will return along the Teesta in the greater Rangpur district soon," Ahsan Habib hoped.
 
Like in other affected upazilas, Gangachara upazila administration of Rangpur, with assistance of local union parishad, distributed 20 metric tonnes of rice as general relief among 2,000 flood-hit people of seven unions yesterday (6 October).
 
"We are now distributing more than 20 metric tonnes of rice among flood-stricken people of Sadar, Laksmitari, Gajoghontha, Mareya, Nohali, Alambiditor and Kolkond unions in the upazila today," Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahmud Hasan Mridha told BSS this noon. 
 
"Arrangements have been made to provide necessary assistance to affected families. There is nothing to panic about. Work is underway to provide relief wherever the kind of help is needed. The people's representatives of the area have listed the victims," he said.
 
Similarly, the upazila administrations, with the assistance of the district administrations, have been conducting relief activities in all other affected upazilas of the greater Rangpur district along the Teesta. 
 
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam said the district and upazila administrations, BWDB, local monitoring committees and public representatives are closely observing the developing situation and taking steps in the flood-hit areas.
 
"We have adequate preparations, and the upazila administrations have ample stock of relief materials. Relief operations are continuing in the flood-hit areas when and where necessary," he added.