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Flood may hit parts of country

Kurigram’s low-lying areas inundated; water flows in Teesta, Brahmaputra above danger level


Published : 26 Jun 2020 09:53 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:18 AM

The water level of 16 rivers flowing over Kurigram district has risen as rivers continued to swell due to heavy rains in the upstream, resulting flood in lowlands. 

According to the Kurigram Water Development Board, the Pony Chilmari point of the Brahmaputra River risen by 23.63 meters and it was flowing just 5 cm below the danger level on Friday morning. 

On the other hand, the water of Dharla river is flowing along the danger line at Kurigram Sadar point. Besides, the Dudhkumar river is flowing at Nunkhawa point with an increase of 26.27 cm and the danger level at Teesta Kaunia point with an increase of 28.80 m and flowing at 11 cm below the danger level. 

The water of 16 rivers flowing over the district is increasing rapidly. The water has continued to rise with the rains till filing of this report.

Because of rise in water level, Jatrapur of Kurigram Sadar, Nunkhawa, Kaliganj, Narayanpur of Nageshwari upazila; at least 30 chars in Begumganj, Saheb Alga, Nayarhat of Chilmari Union and Ashtamir Char Union of Ulipur Upazila have been flooded. The fields of various crops including almond, sesame, kaun and jute have been submerged. River erosion has alos occurred with the increase of water level.

Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ariful Islam said that river water is increasing in Kurigram. In the Brahmaputra basin, Kurigram Sadar, Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari, Rajibpur Upazila and parts of Nageshwari may be flooded.

Meanwhile, water flows of Teesta River alarmingly crossed the danger level at Dalia point of Nilphamari district this morning near Teesta barrage inundating vast crops fields and homesteads in the low-lying areas and 15 shoals of Dimla and Jaldhaka upazila. The river's outlook changed due to the heavy shower in the last 24 hours in the Teesta basin on both sides of the border, causing a heavy onrush of water from upstream.

Assistant Engineer Aminur Rashid of hydrology department of Water Development Board (WDB) in Rangpur said that the water was flowing 20 centimeters above the danger level at Dalia point near Teesta barrage.

The river first crossed the danger level on June 20 and inundated vast areas and receded within couple of days but the victims are faced with the same situation now as it has swelled again after six days.  

Moynul Islam, union parishad chairman of Tepa kharibari union in Dimla, said three thousand people in his union have been the worst affected. 

The people have been flooded with waist-deep water while there is a shortage of food with no means to cook either.

Shahidul Islam (50), living at Tapur Char said they were living in fear of the river swelling further as the onrush of water from upstream increases.

WDB authorities said they kept open all the gates of Teesta barrage to tackle the situation.

On the other hand, the water level of the Brahmaputra has crossed the danger level due to rising water level in the last few days. 

The lowlands are sinking and water has started entering the locality. Hundreds of people are about to be flooded in Ramnaghat and Joragachghat areas under Chilmari upazila of Kurigram.

Ramna Ghat traders Nurul, Lalmia, Joynal and many others said that they were allowed to reopen their shops a few days ago after the long corona lockdown. But, now the flood water has entered and they have fallen into a big problem again. 

According to Bangladesh Water Development Board, the water level in Brahmaputra River is flowing above the danger level currently.