Flood situation deteriorates inundating fresh areas in B’putra basin

RANGPUR, Sept 1, 2021 (NM) – The flood situation deteriorated during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today inundating fresh low-lying and char areas despite reduction in the rate of onrushing water from the upstream in the Brahmaputra basin.   Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the major rivers were flowing above danger levels (DL) at 10 points of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Sirajganj districts in the basin at 9 am today.

The Brahmaputra was flowing 44cm above its DL at Chilmari, 2cm at Hatia and Dharla by 12cm at Kurigram points in Kurigram and Ghaghot by 6cm above the DL at Gaibandha point at 9 am today.   The Jamuna was flowing 39cm above the DM at Fulchhari and 20cm at Shaghata in Gaibandha, 44cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 52cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 52cm at Kazipur and 51cm at Sirajganj points in Sirajganj districts at 9 am.   Water level of the Teesta marked further falls by 13cm at Dalia in Nilphamari and 20cm at Kawnia in Rangpur during the past 24 hours and were flowing below the DL 55cm and 46cm respectively at these points at 9 am today.

Executive Engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB at Dhaka, Engineer M Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the Brahmaputra- Jamuna river systems were in rising trend which might continue in the next 48 hours.   The rainfalls recorded during the past 24 hours ending at 9 am today were 77mm at Aizawl and 53mm at Kailashahar points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.   “During the next 24 hours, the flood situation at low lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj may deteriorate in the Brahmaputra basin,” Engineer Arifuzzaman added.   Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said the flood situation in Kurigram and Gaibandha may deteriorate while in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari may improve further in the next 24 hours.

“No report of breaching of flood control embankments was received so far from Rangpur zone. We are closely monitoring the situation, repairing erosion-hit riverbanks and ensuring safety of flood control structures,” Ghosh added.   Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said floodwater has submerged standing crops on 17,901 hectares of land in low-lying areas of four districts out of five in Rangpur agriculture region alone.   The submerged standing crops include transplanted Aman rice on 17,621 hectares of land, Aman seedbeds on 100 hectares and vegetables on 180 hectares of land in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts.

Meanwhile, the government has launched relief operations as the current spate of deluge exposed many people to sufferings following inundation of low-lying areas in the affected districts in the upper Brahmaputra basin.   District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Gaibandha Idris Ali said the district administration has allocated 40 tonnes of rice and taka two lakh for distribution among flood-hit people of the district.

DRRO of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said the district administration has allocated Taka 3.50 lakh and 20 tonnes of rice for distribution among flood-affected people of Gangachara upazila.   Kurigram DRRO Abdul Hye Sarker said the district administration has already allocated 280 tonnes of rice and taka 12 lakh for distribution among flood-hit people of the district.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said the district administrations with local authorities have taken steps to conduct relief activities in the flood-affected districts and face the deluge situation.