Flood to inundate Dhaka

4 surrounding rivers flowing above danger level

The water level in Sitalakhya River continues to swell like other rivers around the capital due to heavy rains in the upstream. It was flowing 20cm above the danger level at Narayanganj point on Thursday.
The water level in Sitalakhya River continues to swell like other rivers around the capital due to heavy rains in the upstream. It was flowing 20cm above the danger level at Narayanganj point on Thursday.
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Staff Reporter :
The capital city Dhaka could be affected seriously by the ongoing flood which has already inundated the most areas of the country.
The water level of the four rivers surrounding the capital city has exceeded the danger level. The lower areas of eastern Dhaka have already been inundated as the waters of the Sitalakhya, Kaliganga, Dhaleshwari and Balu rivers have crossed the danger level, sources said.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said that if heavy rainfall for 4 to 5 days, the water level in the Buriganga might cross the danger level. Experts said that then a major flood could be seen in Dhaka.
The weather forecast said that the flood situation in the country including Dhaka could be worsening again in the next week.
Sources said that the water level of the Balu river near Demra area is flowing over the danger level for a few days due to heavy monsoon rainfall in this week. On Thursday, the water level raised by 3 cm in the river and it caused sufferings to the people of the two banks of the river and huge farmlands.
Earlier, heavy rains and torrential downpours have flooded Durgapur, Nandipur and Thultulia Bazar in Ward No 70 of Dhaka South City Corporation. Locals say this is the first time since 2004 that water has entered the area. Meanwhile, the water of the Sitalakhya river is also increasing every day. According to the FFWC, water of the Sitalakhya river is flowing 20 cm above the danger level in Narayanganj and Kaliganga river is flowing 93 cm above the danger level in Toraghat point and Dhaleshwari river is flowing 75 cm above the danger level in Jagir area.
These overflowing of the rivers have flooded lower areas of Goran, Banashree, Basabo, Aftabnagar, Santarkul and Demra under Dhaka South City Corporation.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, Executive Engineer of the FFWC said, “The flood situation across the country, including Dhaka, could worsen in the next one week. It can affect worst the north and central regions of the country which will have more impact on Dhaka.”
Earlier the experts said that the capital city is going to be flooded like in 1988, 1998 or 2007. Due to the continuous increase of the waters in the surrounding rivers, floods are expected in the eastern part of Dhaka, including Goran, Banashree, Basabo, Aftabnagar, Santarkul, Demra, Jatrabari and DND dam areas, which can last more than two weeks.
They also said that dams are essential to protect the eastern part of the capital city. At the same time, powerful pumps need to be set up and drains and box culverts need to be cleaned for quick disposal of the water from the west zone. Besides, there is no alternative to rescue the canals of Dhaka.
Till Thursday, the waters of the 20 rivers across the country were flowing above the danger level. Waters of the Teesta, Brahmaputra and Jamuna will increase further within next 24 hours in plain areas, sources said.

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