Rains in India may worsen flooding in north

Several Indian states may witness heavy rainfall in one next week, which is likely to worsen flood situation in northern Bangladesh, says the Water Development Board.

In the meantime, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre data show that water level is on the rise at 78 points of the country's total 102 points. The Brahmaputra and the Teesta are swelling fast while the mighty Padma is likely to cross the danger level in 48 hours from Monday noon.

Flood has already hit northern Bangladesh districts Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Bogura and Sirajganj – leaving nearly seven lakh people stranded as their households and vast croplands went under water.   

On top of that, torrential rain and onrush of water from upstream has submerged parts of eastern district Sylhet, north eastern Sunamganj and Netrokona and central Tangail and Jamalpur, causing immense sufferings to people.

Floodwater may increase in the northern seven districts in next two weeks, said the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). According to the BWDB, five major rivers – the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, the Teesta, the Padma and the Atrai – may freshly inundate the adjoining districts in the next one week.

In Sunamganj, new areas adjoining to the district headquarters were submerged Monday and road transportation with four upazilas to the district town remained suspended.    

The Business Standard district correspondents report in details.

In Kurigram, 16 rivers were spilling out as heavy rain and onrush of water from upstream continue. Flood situation at riverside villages was deteriorating gradually as several lakhs of people were stranded in floodwater.        

At least 10,000 hectares of cropland went under water. The district agriculture office was estimating the loss due to the flooding.  

Meantime, the flooding has prompted severe river erosion. An embankment on the Teesta which was built at Tk10 crore got damaged. The erosion has already eaten up a 50-metre stretch of the embankment as the BWDB was dumping sandbags into the eroded parts in a bid to protect the dam.            

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

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

Nilphamari water development officials said Teesta was flowing over the danger level Monday.   

"We kept all the gates of the Teesta barrage open round the clock to tackle the flow," said Water Development Board northern region chief Jyoti Prasad Ghosh.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner KM Tarikul Islam said they allocated Tk19.26 lakh cash and 745 tonnes of rice for five flood-hit districts.   

In haor district Sunamganj, floodwater newly submerged many areas in district municipality Monday. Road transportation from four upazilas -- Bishwamvarpur, Tahirpur, Jamalganj and Dowarabazar – to the district headquarters remained suspended as flooding damaged the roads.        

Local public representatives said several lakhs of people were stranded in floodwater though the government data claim the number to be 50,000. At least 1,194 families shifted to 127 flood shelters at 61 unions of the district as of Monday.

The district administration allocated 410 tonnes of rice and Tk29 lakh cash for the flood-hit people.   

Sunamganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sabibur Rahman said flood situation is likely to improve as rainfall reduced.  

Flood condition in India bordering Netrokona district improved slightly as there was no rain in 12 hours until Monday noon. However, hundreds of villages in the district were still under water.      

Rangchhati Union Parishad Chairman Tahera Begum said people of at least 30 villages at her union were still stranded in water. 

She said the flooding prompted erosion at local rivers while roads and infrastructures were heavily damaged due to the flood.   

Netrokona Water Development Board Executive Engineer Aktaruzzaman said they have taken up emergency measures to tackle river erosion situation.