Water levels in many rivers and tributaries in the Ganges basin is on rising trend on Tuesday following onrushing of floodwater from the upstream hilly catchment areas in the past 24 hours, reports BSS.
Of the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin Tuesday, water levels increased at 16 points while receded at 13 points and remained steady at one point, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points while above the danger level at one point like the previous day.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded rising trends in many rivers, including Korotoa, Mohananda, Atrai, Padma and the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin Tuesday, Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB, told BSS Tuesday morning.
He, however, said water level of the Ganges River declined by 10 centimeter (cm) afresh at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, three cm each at Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge and two cm at Talbaria points at 9 am Tuesday. Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was still flowing 221 cm, 223 cm, 160 cm and 132 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River went up by four cm afresh at Goalundo point and it was flowing 41 cm below the danger level at the point Tuesday morning, he added.
Water level in the Korotoa River went up by 48 cm at Chak Rahimpur and 40 cm at Bogura points afresh and the river was still flowing 203 cm and 331 cm below the danger level respectively Tuesday morning.
The Gur River has also gone up by two cm at Singra in Natore, while the Atrai River by four cm at Baghabari in Sirajgonj Tuesday.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a rising trend has been recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River Tuesday morning.
The water level went up by 20 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 25 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 22 cm at Sirajganj points. The Jamuna River was still flowing 105 cm, 82 cm and 102 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
Water level in Little Jamuna increased by 10 cm at Naogaon, while the Atrai River by 14 cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon and one cm at Atrai point afresh Tuesday morning.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels increased at 10 points, while declined at six points.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began.
The government has brought around 2.17 lakh flood-affected families under the distribution of relief materials to lessen their financial hardships in the affected areas in Rajshahi division.
As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has, so far, allocated 1,547 tonnes of rice, Taka 38.10 lakh in cash, 16,580 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 40 lakh for animal feed.
Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is on the final stage.
Apart from this, 2,239 tonnes of rice, Taka 37.41 lakh, 3,620 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby food and Taka five lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood affected people amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Some 4,842 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 23 deaths occurred mainly due to drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.
