Five Rangpur rivers flow above danger level

Five major rivers in the Rangpur region – Teesta, Dharla, Brahmaputra, Saniajan and Dudhkumar – are flowing over the danger level due to heavy rain and the onrush of water from upstream.

The water level of the Teesta River at Tuesday noon was 22 centimeters over the danger level, while both the Dharla and the Brahmaputra were flowing 73 centimeters above the danger point. 

Besides, the water levels of the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Ghaghat have increased in Gaibandha district. Sources at the Water Development Board said the Brahmaputra was flowing 78 centimeters above the danger level at Teesta Ghat point while the Ghaghat was 53 centimeters above the danger level at Notun Bridge point. 

In Gaibandha, new areas are going under water as the overall flood situation worsens, leaving thousands of people stranded. The flooding also prompted river erosion. Flood-affected people have moved to dykes, embankments and roads. 

The District Water Development Board's Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman said swelling of the rivers has put several points of the Brahmaputra embankments and the Gaibandha town dam at risk. Necessary measures have been taken up to protect the embankments. 

Meanwhile, the Sunamganj flood situation shows mixed developments as the main local river, the Surma, has become calm. The river is still flowing 15 centimeter above the danger level, while the water level of the old Surma has risen. It is flowing 18 centimeters above the danger level at Derai point – submerging new areas in Derai and Sullah upazilas. 

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has opened all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta barrage as the water level increased at Dalia point. The barrage water level reader Nurul Islam said water level increased Monday due to onrush of water from upstream and heavy rain.

Deputy Assistant Engineer of the barrage ASM Aminur Rashid said several char (river island) areas downstream have become inundated as they had to open the sluice gates. 

In Kurigram, an embankment on the Teesta which was built at a cost of Tk10 crore has been damaged. The erosion has already eaten up a 50-metre stretch of the embankment. The BWDB is dumping sandbags into the eroded parts in a bid to protect the embankment.            

Kurigram BWDB Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said they have dumped 10,000 bags and would put in more if required.    

"If we fail to save the embankment, nearby villages and cropland will be washed away," he added.    

The Water Development Board's northern region chief Jyoti Prasad Ghosh said severe flooding in neighboring India is also affecting Bangladesh. He said that 153 new households were washed away due to Teesta, Brahmaputra, Dharla, Saniajan and Dudhkumar erosion in the last 24 hour until Tuesday noon.  

Floodwater has receded in Sunamganj and Chhatak city while water pressure at haor (low lying) areas rose Tuesday. Thousands of people have become stranded as new areas went under floodwater in Sunamganj district. 

According to government estimation, at least 1,194 families shifted to 127 flood shelters at 61 unions of the district as of Tuesday. The flooding has affected 66,869 families in the district. 

Sunamganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sabibur Rahman said the flood situation is improving as rainfall has reduced.  

Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Abdul Ahad said though the overall situation is improving, floodwater has inundated many new areas in haor regions.

The flood situation has also improved in Netrokona. However, at least 70 villages in the district are still submerged. 

Netrokona Water Development Board Executive Engineer Aktaruzzaman said the Kangsha and Someshwari rivers are flowing below the danger level.