The overall flood situation remained mostly stable with a sign of little improvement at places amid the incidents of sporadic erosion in the Brahmaputra basin during the past 24 hours ending at 9am today.
Water levels of major rivers marked little rise and the pressure of onrushing water reduced significantly amid less monsoon rains in upstream northwestern Indian states during the period, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said.
Local sources said the incidents of sporadic erosion continues devouring houses and properties at fewer places alongside the major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Bogra and Sirajganj districts in the basin.
“Despite a fall by 21 cm in the water level during the last 24 hours, the Teesta was still flowing above the danger mark (DM) by 9cm at Kawnia point at 9 am today,” Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Md Mahbubur Rahman said.
Although the Brahmaputra is in a steady state and Jamuna is in a rising trend, water levels of the Brahmaputra may rise and Jamuna may remain steady in the next 24 hours as onrush of water from upstream continues at a cooperatively lower rate.
Following little rise in water levels, the Dudhkumar River was flowing 28cm below DM at Pateshwari and Dharla 55cm below the DM at Kurigram while Brahmanpara was flowing below the DM by 54cm at Noonkhawa, 35cm at Hatia and 40cm at Chilmari points.
The Jamuna was flowing below its respective DMs by 17cm at Fulchhari, 44cm at Shaghata, 11cm at Bahadurabad, 14cm at Sariakandi, 25cm at Kazipur and 16cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
During the past 24 hours ending at 9am today, the recorded rainfalls were 98mm at Cherrapunji and 48mm at Tezpur points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.
No significant rainfalls were recorded anywhere in the Brahmaputra basin during the same period.
A bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB today said the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers are mostly in a steady state, which may rise and the rivers may flow close to their respective DMs in the next 24 hours.
“The flood situation in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts of the Teesta basin may remain steady while the Jamuna at Fulchhari and Bahadurabad points may flow close to their respective danger levels in the next 24 hours,” the bulletin added.
“Along with the local district and upazila administrations, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking immediate steps to conduct repair works of flood control structures at vulnerable points on an emergency basis when and where necessary,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman said local administrations in coordination with BWDB authorities are closely observing the situation in flood-prone areas to conduct relief operations if necessary anywhere in Rangpur division.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha