Flash flood inundates Rajshahi, Rangpur; situation feared to worsen

Flash flood inundated low lying areas in Rajshahi and many areas in Rangpur as water levels in the Padma River have been approaching the danger mark in Rajshahi. People in these regions have been passing days anticipating a worse flood situation.

Our Correspondent from Rajshahi reports, water levels in the Padma River in Rajshahi have been approaching the danger mark, prompting authorities to restrict public movement along the city's crucial T-groyne embankment near Sreerampur.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the river was flowing at 17.49 metres at 12 PM on Wednesday, just 56 centimetres below the danger level of 18.05 metres. Officials reported a steady daily rise of 10-20 centimetres since late July, with the trend continuing.

The rising waters have already inundated low-lying areas and chars (river islands), displacing thousands. Residents are moving livestock and belongings to safer ground, but face acute shortages of shelter and fodder. Mokhlesur Rahman, additional chief engineer of BWDB's western region, said, the BWDB has declared the T-groyne area off-limits to the public and advised nearby shops and vendors to evacuate as a precautionary measure. "People have been prohibited from gathering at the T-groyne for safety reasons. "Though the river is rising daily, we are not yet forecasting a flood."

Residents in several unions of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj have been severely affected. Over 6,500 families in areas including Narayanpur, Alatli, Paka, Uzirpur, and Durlabhpur are currently waterlogged. Children were seen wading through floodwaters to attend schools in nearby areas like Talaimari and Panchoboti.

Locals are calling for urgent government intervention. "We are struggling to relocate cattle. Many families have moved, but some remain trapped in submerged chars," said Shahidul, a local ward member in Paba upazila.

The last time Padma's water breached the danger mark at Rajshahi was on September 7, 2013, when it reached 18.70 meters. Since then, such a critical rise has not been recorded-until now.

Our Correspondent from Rangpur says, thousands of people at different upazilas under Rangpur district have been passing days in anxiety as many areas in the upazilas have been submerged owing to flash flood caused by heavy rainfall and water from upstream during past a couple of days.

Sources said the situation may worsen within next one or two days. Sources said, several hundreds of affected families have been trapped in water and a vast area of crop fields have been inundated at different areas of the district as the swelling Teesta river has caused flash flood in the areas.

The situation has been aggravated on Wednesday owing to ceaseless rainfall throughout the day. The worst affected upazilas are Gangachara and Kaunia.

According to sources, as the water level of Teesta is rising, the low-lying areas and char villages have already been submerged.

It is apprehended that the water level may rise further within next 24 hours. Sobhan Mia, a resident of Alambiditor area at Gangachara Upazila told The Financial Express that his house has been surrounded by flood water on Wednesday. If the situation continues for the next one or two days, his entire house may go under water, he added.

Ajmal, a resident of Char Morneya area in Gangachara upazila, told The FE his one acre of Aman paddy field has been submerged by flood water.

People of the affected areas said, their whole villages, roads and farmlands have gone under water while many houses are now under knee-deep water.

Cattle and poultry farmers are in awful situation, as their animals are stranded without proper shelter. Expressing disappointment, a number of affected people said, they have been suffering from acute scarcity of food, fuel, fodder and pure drinking water. The situation may deteriorate further, they apprehended. Shahinur Mia, a resident of Shahidbag area in Kaunia upazila told FE, "It has been raining continuously for the past a few days.

Now, a lot of water is coming from upstream. Water has already started inundating the low-lying areas." Meanwhile, a good number of farmers apprehended that if their crops remain under water for long, they may face massive losses. Md. Zillur, Chairman of Morneya Union Parishad in Gangachara upazila said, "A good number of affected people are suffering much as they are trapped in water, he added.

anaetru@gmail.com

sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com