Staff reporter :
The overall flood situation in 13 eastern, southern and northern districts of the country worsened on Saturday as all the major rivers kept flowing above danger level following continued rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream.
The most affected districts are Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Bogura, Brahmonbaria, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Feni, hill district Bandarban and port city Chattogram.
The situation may deteriorate if the water levels in the rivers increase further due to the downpour.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, heavy to very heavy rainfall due to the active monsoon may occur over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Chattogram divisions in the next 24 hours.
The Met Office also forecasts landslide in hilly areas of Chattogram division due to incessant rainfall.
Water level of the river Brahmaputra crossed its danger mark yesterday morning in Gaibandha, inundating the river basin areas, including chars.
Other major rivers-the Teesta and the Ghagot-were flowing above their respective danger levels yesterday morning.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the water levels of the major rivers flowing through the district rose sharply due to incessant rains and onrush of hilly waters from the upstream.
Water levels at 79 river stations have marked rises while 11 stations recorded fall, according to a Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) bulletin.
All the major rivers are in rising trend, the bulletin said adding that the major rivers in Chattogram, Sylhet and Rangpur including the Surma, Kushiyara, Kangsha, Feni, Haldha, Matamuhuri, Sangu and Dharala may rise rapidly in next 24 hours.
The bulletin also said flood situation in N4etrokona, Sunamaganj, Sylhet, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandaraban, Lalmonirhat, Kurigtam, Jamalpur and Gaiabandha may deteriorate in next 24 hours.
LALMONIRHAT
Water levels in the Teesta and Dharla rivers continued to rise owing to overnight rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream, prompting evacuation of residents from three upazilas.
People of 15 villages from Hatibandha, Aditmari and Sadar upazilas in the district were cautioned to leave their villages.
Flood controlling dykes at many areas around the Teesta Barrage collapsed due to the onslaught of rain, said Bajle Karim, sub-divisional engineer of Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat.
“Water level in Teesta and Dharala rivers continues to rise. We are trying to check for dyke collapse by dumping geo bags at more vulnerable points on the Teesta river’s left bank,” he said.
People in flood-affected areas of the district are also suffering due to acute crisis of food, and drinking water.
Earlier, the authorities opened all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage to cope with flow of water from the upstream.
KURIGRAM
Water levels of four rivers rose significantly in the last 30 hours from 6:00am yesterday, according to the control room of Water Development Board in Kurigram.
The water level of Dharla river at the Dharla Bridge point in Sadar upazila rose 61 centimetres till 12:00pm yesterday. As a result, the water was flowing 52cm above the danger level at the point.
Water of the Brahmaputra river also rose to 51 centimetres at Chilmari Ghat Point in Chilmari upazila resulting in water flowing at 39cm above the danger level there.
River water in Teesta at Kaunia Ghat Point of Rangpur’s Kaunia upazila and Dudh Kumar river at Noon Khaowa Point of Sadar upazila also crossed the danger level around 12:00pm yesterday.
Water levels of the Teesta river increased by 30 centimetres and continued to flow 9cm above the danger level. And Dudh Kumar river saw a rise of 52 centimetres and is flowing 7cm above danger level.
GAIBANDHA
Water level of the Brahmaputra river crossed its danger mark yesterday morning, inundating the river basin areas including chars.
Other major rivers-the Teesta and the Ghagot River-were flowing just below their respective danger levels in the morning.
The officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the water levels of the major rivers flowing through the district rose sharply due to incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters from the upstream.
The Brahmaputra was flowing 25cm above its danger level at Fulchharighat point of the district this morning. The Ghagot was flowing 1cm below the danger mark at New Bridge Road point of the district town, the Teesta 3cm at Kaunia point of Rangpur district and the Karotoa 162cm at Katakhali Bridge point of Gobindaganj upazila there.
With the rise of water level in the Brahmaputra river, the river basin areas of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Saghata upazila had been inundated and the standing crops particularly jute and summer vegetables went under flood water.
Executive Engineer of BWDB Mokhlasur Rahman said as the Brahmaputra was flowing over its danger mark, the officials and the employees of the board have been kept alert and vigil there to protect the embankment from any kind of destruction.
As the Ghagot river was also flowing just below its danger level, security measures have also been tightened at the town protection embankment so that any vested quarters could not damage it in a bid to create immense sufferings of the Gaibandha municipality, he also said.
CHATTOGRAM
People have been suffering in the rain as many parts of the port city were experiencing severe water-logging.
Low-lying areas like Chawkbazar, Bakulia, Solokbohor, Agrabad, Halisahar, Muradpur, Poddarhaat, Kapasgola and Dewanbazar were inundated in nearly knee-to-waist-deep water, Mahamudullah Maruf, deputy collector of revenue of the district, the me4dia.
In Fatikchhari upazila, 30 villages under five unions were suffering due to flash floods resulting from damage of Halda dam and torrents from the hills, Najibul Bashar Maijvandari, lawmaker from Tariqat Federation, told newsmen. Around 800 families have been evacuated from the hilly areas of the district fearing landslide, he said adding that they have been shifted to eight shelters in the city.
BOGURA
The water level of the Jamuna river crossed danger level in Sariakandi upazila of the district this morning and was flowing 8cm above the danger level around 3:00pm, said Hasan Mahmud, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Bogura.
So far 2,200 families and 14 schools of Chaluabari, Karnibari and Kazla unions have been affected due to flash flood, according to the chairmen of the three union parishads.
They said people from 22 villages under the three unions are suffering due to the flash flood from last night, followed by water-logging.
Rafiqul Alam, education officer of Sariakandi upazila, said, “Water entered into 14 school premises of the char areas. We have suspended the classes from today (Saturday).”
“Jamuna’s water is entering the char areas of the Chaluabari union only. We have taken 150 affected families to safe places. From tomorrow (Sunday) we will start supplying relief materials among the affected areas, said acting UNO Siddartha Bhoumik.
BANDARBAN
The overall flood situation in Bandarban has worsened, owing to incessant rainfall for the last nine days.
Sangu and Mathamuhuri rivers were flowing above the danger level due to onrush of water from the hills, said the water development office.
Vehicular movement on Chittagong-Bandarban and Bandarban-Rangamati highways was snapped for the last four days.
Movement of vehicles was also snapped on all seven upazilla roads due to landslide and flood water.
Flood affected people are facing acute crisis of drinking water mostly in Sher-E-Bangla Nagor, Army Para, Islampur, and Wapda Bridge areas of the town.
People of the district are also suffering as prices of commodities have risen.
Low-lying areas of Lama, Alikadom, Ruma, Thanchi and Rowangchhari upazilas have also been flooded.
Daily activities of the locals have come to a standstill following the flood situation.
BRAHMANBARIA
Most of the areas in the town went under knee-deep water due to incessant rain for the last couple of days, causing immense sufferings to the town dwellers.
Waterlogging has become a never-ending problem for the residents of the town, thanks to unplanned constructions, waste dumping, poor drainage system and filling up of water bodies, said locals.
SYLHET, SUNAMGANJ
Eight upazilas under Sylhet and Sunamgonj districts were inundated while the rivers are flowing above danger levels due to heavy downpour coupled with onrush of water from upstream.
Authorities closed the schools as Sunajgonj-Biswambar-Tahirpur road went under water, snapping the road communications of three upazilas.
According to the officials of Sylhet and Sunamgonj district administrations, they have taken all measures to face any situation as more than one lakh people have been marooned.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet M Kazi Emdadaul Islam said, “Jointapur, Goyainghat and Companyganj upazilas were flooded caused by rainfall and onrush of water. Low-lying areas of others upazilas went under water during the past few days.”
Nearly 70,000 people of five upazilas in the district – Doarabazar, Sunamganj Sadar, Tahirpur, Bishmvarpur and Jamalganj – have been stranded by flood water.
Normal life in these upazilas have severely hampered due to flooding.
