Rivers swell threatening more floods
Water of some major rivers in the country's northern region and some other districts is rising again, posing the risk of flooding many areas.
"River water is increasing due to heavy rainfall in the upstream. It may cause flood for a short period by the end of this month," said Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat.
Yesterday's bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said water level of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers was in a rising trend.
"The Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers may become steady in next 24 hours," said the bulletin released at 9:00am.
"The Ganges and Padma rivers are in a steady state which may remain steady in next 24 hours," it added.
"Medium to heavy rainfall has been forecasted for south-eastern hilly region and south-central region in next 24 to 48 hours," the bulletin said.
Water level of five rivers was flowing above the danger level yesterday, said the FFWC.
Water of many major rivers in the Ganges basin has started rising again yesterday because of the onrush of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas caused by heavy downpour, reports BSS.
Local offices of Water Development Board recorded an upward trend of water in the rivers like Mahananda in Chapainawabganj and Ganges at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria, and Goalanda and other downstream rivers yesterday morning.
Water level in the Ganges river went up by 3cm at Pankha, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points, while it increased 2cm at Rajshahi point in the past 24 hours till 9:00am yesterday, WDB Superintending Engineer Mukhlesur Rahman told BSS.
Meanwhile, over 50 lakh people of 162 upazilas in 33 districts have so far been affected by the flood, according to the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre latest report released on Sunday.
Our district correspondents report on the flood situation.
In Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, water of major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar, is rising again.
Water level in these rivers has gone up by 8-10cm, and water is in an increasing trend, said WDB officials, adding that they feared that the flood situation might deteriorate again by the end of this month.
People said their sufferings will know no bounds if the flood hits them again.
Nur Haque Mandal, a boatman of Char Yatrapur in Kurigram Sadar upazila, said water in the Brahmaputra river has been rising for the last two days.
"If it continues, water level of the river may cross the danger level within a few days," he told The Daily Star.
A farmer of the area, Jober Ali, said they were facing immense sufferings as flood hit their areas twice since June.
"We have recently returned home from flood centres. Our houses and croplands have been damaged. We don't know what we will do, if flood hits us again," said Nazmul Islam, a farmer of Char Gobordhan in Lalmonirhat's Aditmari upazila.
In Nilphamari, the flood situation remained steady till yesterday as the Teesta was still flowing 28cm below the danger level at Dimla point. But the situation may worsen shortly as there is a possibility of rainfall.
Water level of the Jamuna river rose by 5cm at Aricha point in Manikganj, and it may slightly increase further, said WDB officials.
[Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Manikganj contributed to this report]