Flood situation has been improving for the last couple of days as water declining continues in many rivers in the Brahmaputra and Ganges basin for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a continuous falling trend of water at the points of Rajshahi and Talbaria despite rising at Pankha and Hardinge Bridge points afresh in the past 24 hours ending 9 am Tuesday, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.
Water levels of the Ganges River marked rise by two centimeter (CM) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and one cm at Hardinge points and decreased by five cm at Rajshahi and three cm at Talbaria points while the water level in the Padma River fall by two cm at Goalunda point.
The Ganges River was flowing 173 cm, 180 cm, 96 cm and 80 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively while the Padma River was flowing 78 cm above the danger mark at Gualundo point, he added.
Of the total 30 river points, being monitored in Ganges basin regularly, water levels decreased at 19 stations, while went up at eight points and remained stable at three points at 9 am Tuesday, creating a furthermore hope of reducing the plight of the flood-affected people in the char (shoal) and other low-lying areas.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at 23 points, while above danger mark at five points this morning.
On the other hand, the water level of the Korotoa River and the Jamuna River under the Brahmaputra Basin which flow through Bogura and Sirajganj districts were seen a declining trend again this morning, forecasting improvement of the flood situation in the two districts within the next couple of days.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in the Korotoa River increased by seven cm at Chak Rahimpur, while declined by two cm at Bogura point.
The river was flowing five cm above the danger mark at Chak Rahimpur, while 161 cm below the danger mark at Bogura stations yesterday morning.
The Jamuna River declined by 12 cm each at Sariakandi in Bogura district and at Kazipur in Sirajganj district points and nine cm at Sirajganj point and the river was still flowing 48 cm, 22 cm and 30 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
He also said the water level in the Gur River decreased by three cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 74 cm above the danger mark.
The Atrai River was flowing 73 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with a three cm fall afresh yesterday morning.
Water level in the Mohananda River further went up by two cm at Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 89 cm below the danger mark.
The Atrai River was flowing two cm above the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with a three cm fall afresh while 236 cm below the danger mark with 15 cm fall at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in many of the districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels decreased at 11 points, went up at four points and remained stable at one point.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at nine points, while above danger mark at seven points this morning.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the marooned people in the flood-affected areas amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Divisional Director of Health Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya told BSS that 658 medical teams are working in 140 flood affected unions under 18 upazilas in the division. Besides, 308 flood shelters were opened for the marooned people in Sirajgonj, Bogura and Naogaon districts.
He added that 64 unions in Sirajganj, 24 in Bogura, 19 in Pabna, 14 in Naogaon and 19 in Natore districts are the worst affected ones.
He said they have recorded 1,984 patients suffering from various other flood-related diseases, including 72 diarrheal and eight respiratory tract infections since July 1.
The flood situation improved further with sharp fall in water levels of major rivers in eight northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours till 9 am Tuesday.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of major rivers marked further sharp fall to still flow above the danger mark (DM) at nine points despite reduction in onrushing waters during the period.
The improving trend in the flood situation might continue in the basin during the next 72 hours paving the way for the displaced people to start returning to their houses.
Meanwhile, sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion have been reported from several points alongside the Dharla, Dudhkumar, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Ghaghot and Jamuna rivers due to stronger river current with recession of floodwaters.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked fall by 19cm at Noonkhawa and 15cm at Chilmari while Dharla marked fall by 29cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by another 19cm at Gaibandha points during the period.
Water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp fall by 20cm at Fulchhari, 14cm at Bahadurabad, 12cm each at Sariakandi and Kazipur and 9cm at Sirajganj points during the period.
The Brahmaputra was still flowing above the DM by 4cm at Chilmari while Dharla by 10cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 5cm at Gaibandha points at 9 am Tuesday.
The Jamuna was flowing above the DM by 27cm at Fulchhari, 39cm at Bahadurabad, 48cm at Sariakandi, 22cm Kazipur and 30cm at Sirajganj points while Kartoa was flowing above the DM by 5cm at Chak Rahimpur pint at 9am Tuesday.
“However, water level of the Teesta marked a rise by 2cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and was flowing 28cm below the DM there at 9 am today,” said Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) Division of BWDB M Rabiul Islam.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said sporadic riverbank erosion has been reported alongside major rivers from Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and other areas and protection works are continuing at most places.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the flood situation continues improving everywhere in Rangpur division.
“The district administrations are ensuring proper distribution of relief goods, baby foods, animal fodders and cash money among the flood-hit people,” he said, adding that the government continues allocating more rice and money frequently for the purpose.
Talking to BSS, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Gaibandha Moazzem Hossain said the second phase of the deluge has affected 2.50 lakh people in the district where the flood situation continues improving now.
“We are distributing 440 tonnes of rice, Taka eight lakh, 6,650 packets of dry foods, Taka four lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh for animal fodders continues among flood-hit people in full swing in the district,” he added.
DRRO of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said more than 2.50 lakh people have been affected by the second phase of the deluge in the district.
“The district administration continues distribution of 190 tonnes of rice, Taka 13 lakh, 8,000 packets of dry foods, Taka six lakh for baby foods and Taka nine lakh animal fodders among flood-affected people in the district,” he added.
The district administrations concerned have also intensified relief activities in other flood-affected northern districts in the basin.