RAJSHAHI, July 11: Due to incessant rainfall at the upper riparian region and onrush of water from across the border, the water level of the Padma river near the district is rising alarmingly over the last couple of days.
The sudden increase in water level in the river, however, has made thousands of people living on some 20-char villages under Godagari, Paba and Bagha upazilas worried.
The Water Development Board (WDB) sources in Rajshahi, informed, the water level of the river is still below the danger level but if water on the river continues to rise the way it is rising now, the level of water may cross danger level within a couple of days.
WDB sources said over the last four years, the water level of the Padma reached near the danger level but did not cross the level. However, the strong current of water in the river and an increased spate of water would pose a threat to Rajshahi city protection embankment to be eroded or washed away.
Enamul Haque, water level reader of WDB, Rajshahi, said earlier on July 03, the water level of the Padma near Rajshahi was 10.78 metre while on July 07 the water level was recorded at 10.28 metre. on Tuesday noon the water level of the river was recorded at 10.74 metre. The danger mark of water level of Padma river near Rajshahi is 18.50 metre.
According to a report of the WDB, during last 15 years, Padma crossed the danger mark for two times only. From 2004 to 2012, the water level of the river Padma did not cross the danger level. Only on September 19 of 2003 the highest level of water near Rajshahi was recorded at 18.85 metre and on August 28, 2016 the highest water level was 18.41 metre and in 2017 the Padma was flowing at 18.46 metre and in 2018 water of the river Padma was flowing only one centimetre below the danger level during the end of monsoon but the level dropped soon after the rise.
The WDB has full precaution and preparation to check any erosion or crack on the embankment of the Padma river due to on rush of water, sources informed.
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