Downpour, onrush of water worsen flood in north
Flood situation has started worsening again in some northern districts as rivers are swelling due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from across the border.
Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna, Dudhkumari, Bangalee and its adjacent rivers are flowing above the danger level, said the Water Development Board (WDB).
In addition, fresh areas were inundated after dam collapse, and around 40 villages in Kurigram are at risk with two embankments being on the verge of collapse.
“Water in the rivers of northern districts will rise in two or three days before starting to recede,” said Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of WDB, and duty officer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
Over 4.8 million people are still affected by floods in 17 districts, according to National Disaster Response Coordination Centre.
The FFWC yesterday monitored river conditions at 93 stations across the country, and found that water was flowing above the danger level at 18 stations.
The water level in Teesta, Dharla, Brahmaputra, and other rivers of the northern region and Surma-Kushiyara will rise today, but the Jamuna water level may remain steady, according to a bulletin of the FFWC, which was updated yesterday.
Flood situation in Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, Tangail, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur and Munshiganj may remain unchanged, but conditions may deteriorate in Sylhet and Sunamganj to some extent.
The bulletin also predicts that heavy rainfall would occur at northern and north-eastern parts of the country today.
Our correspondents from different districts report on the flood situation.
LALMONIRHAT
Many areas of Lalmonirhat were submerged yesterday although water started receding a few days back.
“We returned home on Sunday after staying on the road for 10 days. But water entered our home again today (Wednesday). So, we came back to the road,” said Asadul Islam, 56, of Char Shiberkuti area under the sadar upazila.
“My house was damaged by the first phase of flood. I could not repair it due to lack of money. But flood has hit again. I can’t understand what to do now,” said Kadbanu Bewa, 58, a resident of Char Kulaghat under the sadar upazila.
Dharla was flowing 27 centimetres (cm) above the danger level at Shimulbari point in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, and Teesta above 15cm of the danger level at Teesta Barrage point in Hatibandha upazila yesterday noon, said Bajle Karim, sub-divisional engineer of WDB in the district.
BOGURA
Around 80,000 people of 60 villages in Sonatala, Sariakandi, Dhunat, Gabtoli and sadar upazilas of Bogura have been freshly affected by floods in the last couple of days, said sources at the district administration.
Bangalee and Jamuna rivers were flowing 100cm and 14cm above the danger level in the district respectively, said Hasan Mahmud, executive engineer WDB in Bogura.
KURIGRAM
Flood situation worsened again in Kurigram with the river water rising.
Dharla was flowing 50cm above the danger level at Dharla Bridge point in the sadar upazila and Brahmaputra 25cm above the danger level at Chilmari Ghat point of Chilmari upazila yesterday evening, according to local WDB office.
Besides, two embankments at Phulbari and Ulipur upazilas are at high risk of collapse. If the embankments give way, around 40 villages will be flooded.
“Our houses and land will go under water if the embankment fails. We, the local people, are trying to protect the dam with sand bags and bamboo pillars. But it may collapse anytime,” said Jewel Miah, 48, of Char Barolaye village under Phulbari upazila.
Kurigram WDB Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said they would take prompt action to protect the embankments.
MYMENSINGH
Around 200 houses and vast areas of croplands were freshly inundated in Mymensingh yesterday after a portion of the flood protection embankment collapsed in Charshirta Konapara area of the sadar upazila.
The dam collapsed around 8:00am. As a result, a huge amount of water entered, inundating houses and land within a few hours.
Many affected families were seen rushing to higher grounds and flood shelters with their belongings and cattle. Due to the onrush of water, the ponds overflew and released the fish, said locals.
The district WDB executive engineer, Jahurul Islam, said necessary steps will be taken soon to reconstruct the dam.
Local Government Division Deputy Director in Mymensingh AKM Galib Khan said they were preparing a list of victim families to distribute relief.
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