Major rivers swell again in northeastern region


FE Team | Published: July 01, 2022 09:29:14 | Updated: July 01, 2022 17:52:31


-Representational Image

Flood claimed four more lives in the country in 24 hours till Thursday morning, raising the total fatalities to 92, report agencies.

Al the latest victim died by drowning in floodwater in Sherpur, Sunamganj and Habiganj districts, according to the Directorate general of Health services (DGHS).

Over 3.0 million people have been rendered homeless and as many as 40,000 houses destroyed in the recent floods in Sylhet, officials said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, across the country water levels at 39 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 60 stations recorded fall.

Among the 109 monitored stations, 10 river stations have been registered steady while water levels at 10 stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today.

The Dudhkumar at Pateswari, the Dharia at Kurigram, the Brahmaputra at Hatia, the Upper Atrai at Bhusirbandar, the Surma at Kanaighat, the Kushiyara at Amalshid and Sheola, the Old Surma at Derai, the Baulai at Khaliajuri and the Someswari at Kalmakanda are flowing above danger level by 87cm, 114cm, 42cm, 12cm, 01cm, 22cm and 07cm respectively.

Significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today, the bulletin added.

A total of 185 mm (millimetre) rainfall was recorded at Sunamganj, 85mm at Kanaighat (Sylhet), 100 mm at Chattak (Sylhet), 76mm at Jariajanjail, 85mm at Lorergarh and 60mm at Sheola (Sylhet).

Significant rainfalls (mm) recorded during last 24 hours from Thursday evening in Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura regions of North-East India, the bulletin added.

A total of 121mm rainfalls were recorded at Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) and 49mm at Jalpaiguri (West Bangal),

The Surma and the Kushiyara rivers are flowing above their danger levels at some points Thursday morning following heavy downpour in two days since Tuesday.

The floodwaters in the areas adjacent to Surma, Dhalai, Piyain, Sari and Lova river banks almost receded till Tuesday afternoon.

The water level of the Kushiyara River is in rising trend at Sheola and Fenchuganj points.

AKM Niloy Pasha, sub-divisional engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board, said, "It is raining in Sylhet as well as in upstream. As a result, the water of these rivers is rising."

In Sunamganj, rains started again from Monday after a week. Rivers are swelling again due to onrush of water from upstream triggered by rains in Meghalaya and Cherrapunji of India.

The water level of the Surma River has increased by 32 cm in the last three days.

According to Sunamganj Water Development Board, the Surma river was flowing 3 cm below the danger level near Sunamganj town at 12 noon on Thursday.

However, the river is flowing 83cm above the danger level in near Chhatak upazila as the district recorded 195mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

The Jamuna River has also started swelling in Sirajganj.

The water of the Jamuna has increased by 20 cm at Sirajganj point. But the river is flowing 80 cm below the danger level at this point.

At Kazipur point, water level of the Jamuna has increased by 14 cm and the river is flowing 70 cm below the danger level Thursday morning, said Sirajganj Water Development Board Sub-Divisional Engineer (Headquarters) Nasir Uddin.

However, Shafiqul Islam, executive engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board, said there is no possibility of flood in this district even if the water level of the Jamuna continues to increase for the next 2/3 days.

Meanwhile, Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said there is chance of heavy rainfall at places of the northern and northeastern Bangladesh along with Assam, Meghalaya and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Sikkim) of India in next 24 hours from Thursday evening.

As a result, the major rivers of northern Bangladesh (Teesta, Upper Atrai, Dharla, Dudhkumar, Upper Karotoa, Tangon, Punarbhaba and Kulikh) may rise rapidly during this period, it added.

The water level of the Teesta river at Dalia Point, Dharla river at Kurigarm point and Dudhkumar river at Pateswari point may remain close to danger level in next 24 hours from Thursday evening.

Flood situation in Kurigram and Dinajpur districts of northern region and Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria districts of northeastern region may remain steady in next 24 hours from Thursday evening, it added in their latest report.

Share if you like