Flood situation improves further in B’putra basin

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RANGPUR, Aug 18, 2017 (BSS) – The flood situation improved further during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today with continuous fall in water levels of the major rivers in the northern districts on the Brahmaputra basin.

“The situation is getting normal gradually in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur and Rangpur districts where most of the displaced people returned homes while the situation is continuously improving in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts now,” said Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed today.

Relief activities were further intensified in the flood affected areas in Rangpur division, he said.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) Officials said water levels in the major rivers marked fall at all points with receding the onrush of waters from upstream in last few days and the trend might continue in the coming days.

The major rivers and tributaries were flowing above the danger marks (DM) at ten points in spite of falling in water levels of the major rivers during the past 24 hours till 9am today.

Water levels in the Brahmaputra have marked further sharp falls by 29cm at Noonkhawa, 24cm at Chilmari and 20cm at Fulchhari while Dharla by 25cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 23cm at Gaibandha points during the period.

Water levels of the Jamuna have marked falls by 19cm at Bahadurabad, 22cm at Sariakandi, 16cm at Kazipur and 14cm at Sirajganj while Punorvoba 150cm at Dinajpur, Ich-Jamuna 26cm at Phulbari and Tangon 96cm at Thakurgaon points.

Following continuous fall in water levels, the Punorvoba was flowing 350cm below danger level at Dinajpur, Tangon 306cm below at Thakurgaon, Ich-Jamuna 38cm at Phulbari, Teesta 45cm at Dalia, 135cm at Kawnia and 83cm at Sundarganj points in last 24 hours as of 9am today.

The Brahmaputra was flowing 45cm below danger level at Noonkhawa and 40cm above danger lavel at Chilmari and 70cm at Fulchhari while Dharla 29cm above DM at Kurigram points at the same time.

The Jamuna was flowing 102cm above DM at Bahadurabad, 100cm at Sariakandi, 138cm at Kazipur and 138cm at Sirajganj and Ghaghot 78cm above DM at Gaibandha points at 9am today.

The Jamuneswari was flowing 78cm above DM at Badarganj and Kartoa 20cm above danger mark at Chak Rahimpur points.

The concerned Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officers (DRROs), officials of WDB, Department of Agriculture Extension and public representatives are visiting the affected areas and closely monitoring the situation.

Kurigram DRRO Enamul Haque said the district administration so far allocated 951 tonnes of rice and Taka 30.05 lakh in cash for distribution among distressed people of all nine upazilas.

Dinajpur DRRO Mokhlesur Rahman said 655 tonnes of rice and Taka 26.90 lakh in cash have already been distributed among flood-hit people in the district where most of the displaced 54,950 people have already returned homes from 384 flood shelters.

“The government also allocated more 1,000 tonnes of rice and Taka 40 lakh in cash for distribution among flood-hit people,” he added.

Relief activities have also been beefed up in flood-hit areas of Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj and Bogra districts on the Brahmaputra basin.