Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, July 8, 2026 (BSS) - Due to the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall during the next 24 to 48 hours, the Teesta may flow above the danger level, which may result in short-term flooding in the low-lying areas of the greater Rangpur district.
 
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said that the water level of the Teesta river has increased during the last 24 hours, while the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers have remained stable. 
 
Due to the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rangpur division and adjacent northeastern Indian states in the Brahmaputra basin, the water levels of these rivers may increase rapidly in the next three days.
 
During the next 24 to 48 hours, the Teesta may flow above the danger level, resulting in short-duration flooding in the adjacent low-lying areas of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts. 
 
Furthermore, within the next 72 hours, the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers may flow at the warning level in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, and adjacent low-lying areas may experience temporary inundation in the Brahmaputra basin.
 
At 3 pm today, the Teesta was flowing below the danger level by 16cm at Dalia in Nilphamari, 30cmm below danger level at Kawnia in Rangpur and 28cm below danger level at Tarapur and 90cm below danger level at Haripur point in Gaibandha.
 
The Dharla was flowing 202cm below its danger level at Kurigram, Dudhkumar was flowing 165cm below at Pateshwari point in Kurigram, Ghaghot was flowing 166cm below danger level at Gaibandha and Brahmaputra was flowing below danger level by 175cm at Noonkhawa, 143cm at Hatia and 120cm at Chilmari points respectively at 3 pm today.
 
At 3 pm today, the Jamuna was flowing below its danger level by 133cm each at Fulchhari and Bahadurabad points, 163cm at Shaghata, 139cm at Sariakandi, 187cm at Kazipur and 145cm at Sirajganj points.
 
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB in a bulletin today said very heavy rainfall was recorded over the Rangpur and other divisions of Bangladesh, while heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in the upstream regions of Meghalaya, West Bengal, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh in India during the last 24 hours.
 
According to meteorological agencies, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over the Rangpur and other divisions of Bangladesh and the adjoining upstream regions of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal in India during the next three days.
 
During the subsequent two days, these regions will experience moderate-heavy to heavy rainfall.
 
The recorded rainfalls in the upstream Indian states during the last 24 hours till 9am today were 138mm at Mawsynram, 126mm at Cherrapunji, 116mm at RKM Sohra, 104mm at Coochbehar, 73mm at Shella, 60mm at Ratacherra and 46mm at Silchar points.
 
During the same period, in northern Bangladesh, 156 mm rainfall was recorded at Thakurgaon, 150mm at Chilamri, 122mm at Kawnia, 101mm at Gaibandha and 53.8mm at Rangpur points.
 
Talking to BSS this evening, Superintending Engineer of BWDB Rangpur Circle Md Ahsan Habib said that the water level of the Teesta is rising, while the water level of other major rivers is rising and falling at different places. 
 
If heavy monsoon rains continue in the upstream and downstream parts of the Brahmaputra basin for the next two to three days, there is a possibility of short-term flooding along the Teesta. 
 
"However, there is no forecast of major flooding in the next few days," he said adding that BWDB officials are closely monitoring the situation.