RANGPUR, July 2, 2020 (BSS) – The overall flood situation remained mostly steady with an improving trend during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today in seven northern districts on the Brahmaputra basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Officials said water levels of major rivers continues receding with reduced rate of onrushing water from the upstream and the trend might persist in the next 24 hours to improve the flood situation in the basin.
BWDB officials and staff are working to protect riverbanks at some 25 points following sporadic erosion caused by the major rivers of Dharla, Ghaghot, Brahmaputra and Jamuna in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts.
“There is no report of breaching of flood control embankments and structures anywhere in all eight districts of Rangpur division,” Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Engineer Jyoti Prosad Ghosh told BSS at 3:30 pm.
“Along with closely monitoring flood situation and safety of flood control structures, we have all preparations to repair any damage of those on an emergency basis anywhere across the zone,” Ghosh said.
The flood situation continues improving with the recession of water levels in the rivers Teesta and Dharla in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari while the same trend is likely in Kurigram and Gaibandha in the next 48 hours.
“Water levels of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna are showing receding trends at lower rate following reduction in the rate of onrushing water from the upstream in the northeastern Indian states during the past four days,” Ghosh added.
BWDB officials said the major rivers were flowing above the danger marks (DM) at nine points of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts at 9am today despite further falls in their respective water levels during the last 24 hours.
The Brahmaputra was flowing 48cm above the DM at Noonkhawa and 56cm above the DM at Chilmari while Dharla 28cm above the DM at Kurigram and Ghagot 38cm above the DM at Gaibandha points this morning.
The Jamuna was flowing 75cm above the DM at Fulchhari, 78cm above the DM at Bahadurabad, 63cm at Sariakandi, 60cm at Kazipur and 42cm at Sirajganj points at 9am today.
Meanwhile, the Teesta marked a little rise by 7cm during the period and was flowing 16cm below the DM there at 9am today.
Executive Engineer of the TBP Division of BWDB M Rabiul Islam told BSS that the flood situation alongside the Teesta remains steady with improving trend during the last 48 hours.
BWDB’s Executive Engineers Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha and Ariful Islam for Kurigram said all flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe and riverbank protection works are continuing in the two districts.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said the submerged land area with standing crops remains steady at 11,006 hectares of land with no more submergence in the last 24 hours in the region.
Talking to BSS at 3:40 pm, Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the district administrations are continuing relief activities among the flood-hit people in affected Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts.
“We have enough stocks of around 3,000 tonnes of rice and adequate cash money to continue relief activities among flood-affected people though the deluge situation is showing an improving trend in Rangpur division now,” he added.