After a rising trend amid heavy downpour and onrush from the upper catchment in the last few days, the water levels in many of the rivers in the Ganges basin started receding on Thursday, signaling improvement of the flood situation in the region within the next couple of days, reports BSS.
With continuous improvement in the flood situation, sporadic riverbank erosion was reported from alongside major rivers in eight affected northern districts in the last 24 hours ending at 9am Thursday in the Brahmaputra basin.
Of the total 30 river points being monitored in Ganges basin regularly, water levels decreased at 20 stations, while increased at nine stations and remained stable at one point at 9 am Thursday, creating a 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 22 points, while above danger mark at seven points Thursday morning.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a falling trend of water levels at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria in the past 24 hours ending 9 am Thursday, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.
Water levels of the Ganges River decreased by three centimeters (CM) each at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and Talbaria points, four cm at Rajshahi and 8 cm at Hardinge Bridge points while the level in the Padma River decreased by 12 cm at Goalunda point.
The Ganges River was flowing 167 cm, 160 cm and 83 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points respectively, he added.
Besides, the water level of the Korotoa River and the Jamuna River under the Brahmaputra Basin which flow in Bogura and Sirajganj districts have seen a receding trend this morning, signaling further improvement in 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 decreased by two cm at Bogura point while decreased by five cm at Chak Rahimpur. The river was flowing 148 cm and 34 cm below the danger mark at the two stations respectively yesterday morning.
The Jamuna River further receded by 15 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 14 cm at Kajipur in Sirajganj and 13 cm at Sirajganj point and the river was still flowing 67 cm, 48 cm and 47 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
He also said the water level in the Gur River decreased by six cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 84 cm above the danger mark.
The Atrai River was flowing 84 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with a 10 cm fall afresh this morning.
Water level in the Mohananda River further receded by seven cm at Rohanpur point in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 86 cm below the danger mark.
The Atrai River was still flowing four cm above the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with a seven cm fall afresh while 316 cm below the danger mark with four cm reduction at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.
Of the 15 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in almost all eight districts under Rajshahi division, water levels decreased at all the points.
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 101 flood affected unions under 18 upazilas in the division. Besides, 18 flood shelters were opened in Bogura district.
He added that 50 unions in Sirajganj, 19 in Pabna, 17 in Bogura, 10 in Naogaon and five in Natore districts are the worst affected ones.
He said they have also recorded 1,628 other patients suffering from various other flood-related diseases including 68 diarrheal and nine respiratory tract infections since July 1 last.
Moinul Islam, Additional Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi, said the district and upazila administrations with the local public representatives have further intensified relief activities in the worst-affected areas.
He also said the district administrations and BWDB are closely monitoring the situation and taking instant steps when and where necessary during the deluge in Rajshahi division.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of major rivers marked further fall during the period and were still flowing above the danger marks (DM) at eight points in five northern districts.
Executive Engineers of BWDB for its Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions Ariful Islam and Mokhlesur Rahman for its Gaibandha division said riverbank protection works are continuing at some vulnerable points in these three districts.
Similarly, the BWDB is conducting riverbank protection works at few other places alongside major rivers in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts in the basin.
Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from few places alongside major rivers with recession of floodwaters.
“However, all flood control embankments and structures of BWDB are remaining safe following appropriate steps and early preparedness taken timely in Rangpur zone,” Ghosh added.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of BWDB sources, the flood situation might improve further in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts during the next 24 hours.
During the past 24 hours till 9am, the recorded rainfalls were 107mm at Pasighat, 88mm at Cherrapunji, 52mm at Jalpaiguri and 51mm at Goalpara points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.
BWDB officials said the Dharla was flowing above the DM by 20cm at Kurigram, Ghagot by 26cm at Gaibandha and Brahmaputra by 19cm at Chilmari points in Kurigram at 9 am yesterday.
Besides, the Jamuna was still flowing above the DMs by 47cm at Fulchhari, 58cm at Bahadurabad, 67cm at Sariakandi, 48cm at Kazipur and 47cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am yesterday.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the district administrations have further intensified distribution of relief materials among flood-hit people of affected districts in Rangpur division.
Talking to BSS, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said the second phase flood has affected over 2.50 lakh people of 62,630 families in the district.
“We are distributing 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 three upazilas of the district,” he said.
DRRO of Gaibandha Moazzem Hossain said more than 2.50 lakh people of over 60,000 families have been affected by the second phase of the deluge in the district.
“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 among flood-hit people in the district,” Hossain said.
Similarly, massive relief activities are continuing in affected areas of other northern districts in the basin.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said 713 medical teams are extending health services to the people residing in flood-prone and other rural areas of Rangpur division.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said floodwaters submerged standings crops on 12,294 hectares of land in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region in the second phase of the deluge.
