Pressure of downward upstream flows, heavy rains, storm surge, and tidal bores caused local rivers to rise to danger levels in the southern region.
In different areas upsurge of water level damaging residences and properties of poor people in the region.
Although overall weather condition slightly improved flash flood situation in southern region after amount of rain decreased and wind speed became less from last two-day, but the pressure of upstream flow increased to downwards causing flash floods , blockade of drainage, rapid cracks on embankments, said Asadul Islam, superintending engineer of Water Development Board Barisal.
The snowmelt in the Himalayas and the floodwaters arrive from upstream with locally heavy raining helped increase the river water levels in downstream of southern Bangladesh including Barisal division, the WDB officer explained.
Total 18 out of 21 gauge-readers of hydrology department of Water Development Board Barisal region working to inform water levels of the rivers from different stations. Their reports said that water level of major rivers including Meghna, Arial Kha, Tentulia, Kitankhola and its branch rivers flowing crossing or near danger-levels, he added.
Gauge Reader Shahidul Islam of Barisal Sadar said Arial Kha and Kirtankhola Rivers flowing close to danger level at different points. Gauge Reader Badiuzzaman of Bamna under Barguna said Biskhali River flowing there at 10 centimeters above the danger level of 2.33 meters. Gauge Reader Abul Kalam from Amtali of Barguna said Burishwar River floating here 17 centemers above the danger point of 2.88 meters. Gauge Reader Mahtabuddin from Barguna Sadar told Khakdon River flowing here 54 centimeters above the danger lavel. Gauge Reader Sirajul Islam from Bhola said Meghna River flowing here at 58 centimeters above the 3.41 meter danger level, while Tentulia River flowing at the margin of 2.90 meter of danger level.
The local WDB officials said data collected by field level Gauge Readers sent to update the data of ‘flood forecasting and warning center ‘ of Water Development Board central office at Dhaka.
However after visiting the website of ‘www.ffwc.gov.bd’ on Monday it was found that data of southern region was not updated.
However posts of Gauge Readers at Tajumuddin of Bhola, Kaitpara of Barisal, Mirjaganj of Patuakhali, Sadar and Najirpur of Pirojpur, remain vacant since long days while more posts with modern equipments needed to forecast river water level situation, WDB officials at Barisal said.
Barisal district relief and rehabilitation officer Chittaranjan Adhikari said different areas of seven out of ten upazilas named Sadar , Hizla, Muladi, Mehendiganj, Gournadi, Agoiljhara and Bakeganj upazilas of the district vulnerable to flash flood in case of torrental rain and pressure of upperstream river flows.
Barisal City Corporation Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal said all departments and officials concerned of BCC directed to be prepared to save people from sufferings and immediately restore drainage, sanitation and communication systems, and supply of pure drinking water in case of heavy downpour or flash flood situation.
