RANGPUR, July 17, 2019 (BSS) – Though the major rivers were flowing above danger marks at places, rate of onrushing water from upstream marked fall today, predicting improvement of flood situation in the region.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said, water levels of the Dharla, Brahmaputra, Ghaghot and Jamuna remained unchanged during past six hours till 3 pm today.
The Dharla was steadily flowing 116cm above the danger level at Kurigram, Brahmaputra by 103cm at Noonkhawa and 132cm at Chilmari and 103cm at Noonkhawa and Jamuna 147cm at Fulchhari points at 3 pm today.
Water levels of the Teesta marked fall with flowing below 12 cm danger level at Kawnia and 22cm at Dalia at 3 pm today, said Harun Ar Rashid, Superintending Engineer (SE) of BWDB Rangpur Circle-1.
Engineer Harun predicted that water levels of these rivers might start falling at all points in Rangpur region from tonight to improve flood situation in the upper Brahmaputra basin from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, district administration has further intensified relief activities in flood-affected five districts of Rangpur region where around nine lakh people were affected.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said distribution of 110 tonnes of rice and Taka three lakh among flood-affected families of three upazilas of the district was progressing.
Nilphamari district administration is distributing 170 tonnes of rice, Taka 2.50 lakh and 2,000 packets of dry foods among flood victims of Dimla Upazila where flood situation started improving from last night, said Nilphamari DRRO SA Hayat.
Kurigram district administration is distributing 500 tonnes of rice, 2,000 packets of dry foods, Taka nine lakh and 450 sets of tent among 6.14-lakh flood-affected people of 498 affected villages in 56 unions of the district.
Besides, 6,428 tonnes of VGF rice were distributed among 4.28-lakh people across the district,” DRRO of Kurigram Khairul Anam said.
River erosion has devoured houses of 1,249 families and academic activities of 417 educational institutions in the district remained suspended, he said.
. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said standing crops on 22,647 hectares of land went under floodwater in 26 upazilas of five districts in Rangpur region.
Of them, standing crops on 105 hectares of land submerged in Rangpur, 6,276 hectares in Gaibandha, 15,820 hectares in Kurigram, 325 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 121 hectares of land in Nilphamari, according to the officials.
Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said steps are being taken to assist farmers in cultivating late variety Aman rice and other substitute crops on their submerged croplands after recession of floodwater.