RANGPUR, Sept 4, 2021 (BSS) – As the flood situation started showing an improving trend, incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from alongside major rivers in the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today in the Brahmaputra basin.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of all major rivers, except the Dharla, marked falls during the period and were still flowing above the danger levels (DL) at 10 points in five northern districts.

According to a bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB, the Brahmaputra is in a falling trend while the Jamuna is in a steady trend and water levels of both the rivers may fall in the next 24 hours.

No notable rainfalls were recorded from the upstream in the northeastern Indian states and also from the downstream in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours.             

“The flood situation at low lying places of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts may deteriorate in the next 24 hours,” the bulletin added.

Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh today told BSS that incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from few places alongside major rivers in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts.

“All flood control structures and devices of BWDB are remaining safe everywhere in Rangpur zone where riverbank protection works are being conducted at several points as the extent of erosion continues rising with recession of floodwaters,” Ghosh added.

Water level of the Dharla marked a further rise by 33cm at Kurigram during the last 24 hours and was flowing above the DL by 61cm at 9 am today.

Meanwhile, water level of the Ghagot fell by 3cm during the period and was flowing above the DL by 17cm at Gaibandha point at 9 am

Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked falls by 8cm at Hatia and 7cm at Chilmari during the period and were flowing above the DL by 2cm  and 43cm at these points respectively in Kurigram at 9 am.

Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked falls by 4cm each at Fulchhari, Shaghata and Bahadurabad, 1cm each at Sariakandi and Kazipur and remained steady at Sirajganj points during the period.

The Jamuna was flowing above the DL by 48cm at Fulchhari and 30cm at Shagahta in Gaibandha, 59cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 68cm at Sariakandi in Bogura and 67cm each at Kazipur and Sirajganj points in Sirajganj 9 am today.

“Water level of the Teesta marked a sharp fall by 55cm during the last 24 hours at Dalia point in Nilphamari where the river was flowing 20cm below the DL at 9 am today,” Engineer Ghosh added.        

Talking to BSS, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Gaibandha Idris Ali said distribution of 80 tonnes of rice and Taka eight lakh continues in full swing among flood-hit people across the district.  

Kurigram DRRO Abdul Hye Sarker said distribution of 280 tonnes of rice and Taka 12 lakh continues among flood-affected families of all nine upazilas across the district.  

DRRO of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said distribution of Taka 3.50 lakh and 20 tonnes of rice continues among flood-affected and erosion-hit people in the district.           

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension said floodwater has submerged standing crops on over 30,000 hectares of land in low-lying areas of Rangpur agriculture region as more reports of submergence of crops were being received.