Release of water from the Chungthang Dam near Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim of India on Wednesday led to sharp rise in water level upstream creating a sudden flood situation in the downstream Teesta basin of Bangladesh.
"Due to damage caused to the Indian dam on the river Teesta in upstream due to overflow of water, water level of the river marked sharp rise and was flowing 25cm above the danger mark (DM) at Dalia point in Nilphamari at 8pm today," a FFWC special bulletin said.
Quoting information received from the Indian Central Water Commission (CWC), the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) bulletin said water level of the Teesta may continue to rise in downstream Bangladesh.
"The Teesta may flow above its DM by 50cm by tonight (Wednesday night) at the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) at Dalia point in Nilphamari and cross its DM at Kawnia point in Rangpur by tomorrow (Thursday) morning," the bulletin said.
As a result, a sudden flood situation might be created to inundate low-lying areas alongside the Teesta river course in Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts by the next 24 hours.
"There is a forecast of heavy rainfall in the Indian Sikkim region during the next 48 hours and the flood situation may continue alongside the Teesta in downstream Bangladesh," the bulletin said, quoting information from the India
Meteorological Department (IMD). While talking to his reporter tonight, Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur
Zone of BWDB Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman said pressure of the rushing water
is very high in hilly Chungthang Dam areas due to very high slope in the
upstream.
"Pressure of flowing water gradually becomes lower in the downstream plain
land areas due to lower slope. There is almost no possibility of a long-term
flood in downstream areas in the Teesta basin," he said.
"However, we have taken all necessary measures and kept all 44 gates of the
TBP on the Teesta at Dalia point in Nilphamari district to control the huge
water flow for safety and security of barrage," Engineer Rahman said.
Divisional Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman said the district and upazila
administrations have taken necessary steps to shift people living in
vulnerable areas alongside the Teesta to flood shelters and conduct relief
and rescue operations if necessary.
"We have adequate preparations and the upazila administrations have ample
stock of relief materials allocated earlier by the government through the
district administrations to conduct relief operations when and where
necessary," he said.
Officials of the district and upazila administrations and BWDB and local
public representatives are closely monitoring the developing situation on the
grounds to take instant steps when and where necessary, he added.
