ABOUT 15,000 homes have been flooded with water as the River Teesta rapidly swelled in a gap of several hours on Tuesday morning after India opened all gates at Gazaldoba barrage. The river swelled by about 25 cm Tuesday inundating all the 62 shoals in Lalmonirhat district. The onrush of water from across the border suddenly increased as the Teesta barrage authorities opened their gates at about 8:00 am. Despite the hectic effort from Bangladesh and assurance from Indian premier for Teesta river treaty, it is yet unreached that allows India to control the water flow, resulting in a flood in monsoon and drought in winter and summer in Bangladesh. On the contrary, India unilaterally withdraws water from Feni River and keeps on diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh to sign a deal for sharing water of the river.
Water Development Board said people have been warned that the river is likely to keep rising. As India experienced heavy rains in Jalpaiguri and adjacent areas past few days creating massive pressure on the Gazaldoba barrage. The River Dharla also grew rapidly and was flowing 15 cm below the danger level until Tuesday afternoon. It is forecasted that the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River flow may start rising. The Ganges and the Padma Rivers may steadily climb as well. It is predicted that a rapid increase in the water levels of the rivers on the Meghna basin and those on the south-eastern hill basin would occur in the next two to three days.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded moderate to heavy rains at many places across the country and predicted fairly active rainfall. Bangladesh experienced moderate to heavy rains over the last three days at many places. India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted largely widespread rainfall in Assam and Meghalaya, Gangetic West Bengal and West Bengal and Sikkim regions until Saturday. By widespread rainfall, the IMD announces at least 76 mm rain in minimum three-fourths of the areas covered by its forecast.
All the symptoms of a widespread flood are exposed. The government must take precautionary measures like adequate relief, equipping shelter centres, repair damaged embankments, issue an early warning for farmers and take preparedness for post-flood rehabilitation also. And, of the Teesta treaty, it is the litmus test for the Bangladesh-India friendship.
