Northern Bangladesh may not see another round of flood though rivers swell

Water levels of major rivers started rising again following onrush of huge water amid monsoon rains from the upper catchment in India in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours till at 9:00am today (Monday).

Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said water levels of major rivers might continue to rise during the next 48 hours in the basin where the Teesta and Dharla may cross their respective danger marks (DM) temporarily during the period.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB, the northern Bangladesh and adjoining northeastern Indian states of Assam in the Brahmaputra basin witnessed moderate to heavy monsoon rains during the last 24 hours.

The recorded rainfalls during the past 24 hours till 9:00am were 121mm at Cherrapunji, 54mm at Gangtok 41mm at Jalpaiguri points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream.

Besides, the recorded rainfalls were 85mm at Chilmari, 70mm at Dalia, 90mm at Gaibandha, 75mm at Dewanganj, 100mm at Jamalpur and 86mm at Sirajganj monitoring points of BWDB during the period.

Water levels of the Dharla sharply rose by 62cm at Kurigram, Ghagot by 13cm at Gaibandha, Brahmaputra by 29cm at Noonkhawa and 21cm at Chilmari and Teesta rose by 32cm at Kawnia points during the last 24 hours till 9am today.

Besides, water levels of the Jamuna rose by 27cm at Fulchhari in Gaibandha, 15cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 7cm at Sariakandi in Bogura and 3cm at Kazipur points in Sirajganj during the period.

However, the major rivers were flowing much below their respective danger marks at all points in the Brahmaputra basin at 9am today.

The Dharla was flowing 82cm below its DM at Kurigram, Brahmanpara by 177cm at Noonkhawa and 135cm at Chilmari, Teesta by 25cm at Dalia and 52cm at Kawnia and Ghaghot below the DM by 177cm at Gaibandha points at 9 am.

Besides, the Jamuna was flowing 138cm below the DM at Fulchhari, 152cm at Bahadurabad, 125cm at Sariakandi, 107cm at Kazipur and 124cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.

Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Engineer Jyoti Prosad Ghosh water levels of the Dharla, Teesta, Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers might continue to rise further during the next 48 hours in the Brahmaputra basin.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and ready to take immediate steps to repair any damage of flood control structures on an emergency basis anywhere in all eight districts of Rangpur division,” he said.

However, Engineer Ghosh ruled out the possibility of another flood this season in the Brahmaputra basin where the Dharla and Teesta might cross their respective danger marks temporarily during the next 48 hours.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the district administrations are closely monitoring the situation and would take immediate steps in case of another unlikely flood situation anywhere in Rangpur division, reports BSS.