Nilphamari Correspondent :
The water flow of the river Teesta has broken all-time records on Monday at 8 am at Dimla in Nilphamari, the water of the river was flowing above the danger level (52.70) 52 cm (53.12) at Teesta Barrage Point. At 12 noon on Sunday the water level was 55 cm (53.15) above the danger level.
To handle the situation, 44 gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open. The Fed Fuse (Flood bypass) area of the Teesta Barrage is being monitored by officials. The Water Development Board has issued a red alert in and around the Teesta Barrage area.
Jyoti Prasad Ghosh, Northern Chief Engineer of the Water Development Board, rushed to the barrage area at night. After a long stay, he toured the barrage and fad bypass area. Dalia Water Development Board Executive Engineer was with him at the time. Rabiul Islam, Executive Engineer (Mechanical) AKM Samsujoha, Sub-Divisional Engineer Hafizul Haque.
The Teesta water in the upper reaches crossed the danger line last Friday. Water is flowing above the danger level from here. Five thousand families in 15 villages of Purbachhatnai, Tepakharibari, Khalishachapani, Jhunagachachapani and Paschimchhatnai Union, which are surrounded by rivers in Dimla upazila of the district, have been flooded for four consecutive days.
According to Dimla, the situation in Chhatnai, Jharshingeshwar, Charkharibari, East Kharibari, Paschim Kharibari, Tistabazar, Telirbazar, Baishpukur, Chatunama and Vendabari areas has deteriorated and people have taken shelter with cows, goats and boxpots.
On the other hand, 2,000 families in Dauabari, Golmunda, Shaulmari and Kaimari areas of Jaldhaka upazila of the district have been flooded. At the same time, as the water of the river Teesta entered the locality, Aman seedbeds of many crop lands of the two upazilas and planted Aman seedlings have been submerged.
Knee to waist deep water is flowing in the dwelling houses. Besides, the ponds of the fish farms have overflowed and a lot of fish have been washed away. In all those areas, the families are moving away to safe places with their valuables. Besides, flood waters are flowing through the village roads.
According to sources, the Teesta water crossed the danger line on June 26 this year. From that morning onwards, it continued to flow over 20 cm of danger level till 26 June. From 29 June to 3 July, water flowed below the danger line.
In the second phase on July 4, it crossed the danger line and flowed over 22 cm. From July 8 to July 10 at 9 am, the water was in danger. When it rises above the danger level at noon that day, it flows over 36 cm at night.
Jyoti Prasad Ghosh, Northern Chief Engineer, Water Development Board, said the Teesta Barrage has a water storage capacity of 4.5 lakh cusecs. If there is more flow than this, the plot bypass has to be opened to remove the water. Last night, the water reached near the crack bypass. The Water Development Board is on alert to control the situation.
Dimla Upazila UNO Jayshree Rani Roy said, monitoring is being carried out in each union by forming teams with field officers of the upazila. The people’s representatives have increased surveillance in their respective areas. Besides, government boats are active and dry food has been provided.
