Published on 12:00 AM, July 27, 2019

Flood situation shows signs of improvement

Water starts receding in some parts in north

Flood victims have taken shelter on the rail tracks in Gaibandha’s Badiakhali Station area as their villages on both sides of the tracks have gone under water. Officials said at least 15 people in the district have died in flood so far. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj

The overall flood situation in some parts of the north showed signs of improvement yesterday as floodwater started receding.

Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) said Brahmaputra, Dharla, Ghaghot, Jamuna and its connecting rivers were mostly flowing above the danger level yesterday but had a decreasing trend in some areas as of 3:00pm.

The situation is expected to be even better by today, WDB said.

In Kurigram, water receded 1.24 foot at Dharla Bridge Point in Sadar upazila, 12cm at Chilmari Ghat point within 24 hours.

Some flood-hit families are living in a coach of Padmarag Express which remains stuck in the area for about 10 days due to damaged tracks. The photos were taken yesterday. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj

Many dwellers in the district started returning home after water went down from different the areas.

In Rangpur, water receded 17cm at Noonkhawa Point in Sadar upazila, 13cm at Kaunia Ghat Point of Kaunia upazila.

In Manikganj, water of the Jamuna was 23cm below the danger mark at Aricha point, decreasing by 5cm in 24 hours. As a result, water in its connecting rivers also started to decrease.

Many people in the district, however, remained stranded in temporary shelters and dikes as most of the areas were still flooded.

In Lalmonirhat, water of the Teesta and the Dharla was flowing below the danger mark.

Public sufferings remained nearly unchanged in district.

In Bogura, water of the Bangali decreased and was flowing 2.94 foot above of the danger level yesterday.

A woman rows a boat carrying rice straw, to be used for cooking, to her makeshift home on a dyke in Gaibandha’s Fulchhari upazila. All seven upazilas of the district were hit by flood two weeks ago. The photo was taken in Katlamari village of the upazila yesterday. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj

Waterof the Jamuna in the district, however, increased 15cm and was flowing 26cm above the danger mark.

People who took shelter in dikes and other places in the district mostly remained stranded.

In Gaibandha, the Brahmaputra was flowing 1.73 foot above the danger mark until 9:00am yesterday while the Ghagot was flowing 27cm above the red mark.

Unlike many dwellers of other flood-hit districts, residents of Gaibandha were also remained high and dry in temporary shelters and dikes.