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Gomti River is rising steadily in Cumilla following relentless downpours and hilly runoff, prompting a flood alert as potential inundation threatens low-lying homes and farmland.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the river is swelling at a rate of 10cm an hour.
As of 3pm on Wednesday, the river had reached 8.3 metres, still 2.5 metres below the official danger mark of 11.7 metres, said Executive Engineer Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman of the BWDB office in Cumilla.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) logged 129mm of rainfall in the district over the 24 hours from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, with more rain forecast through Thursday.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable riverbank areas, especially on the shoals of the Gomti, to move to safer locations.
Prolonged downpours have also flooded parts of Cumilla city, leaving several neighbourhoods waterlogged.
By midday, areas including Tikkar Char, Chanpur Bridge, and Sangraish were already seeing parts of the river islands submerged.
Nurul Alam, a resident of Sangraish, said: “We woke up to see the water right outside our home. We’re very anxious. Last year, the flood washed everything away.
“Locals helped us rebuild, but if it floods again, we’ll be out on the street.”
Parvez Alam of Tikkarchar said, “There wasn’t this much water even [on Tuesday] evening. It’s risen sharply overnight.
“If it keeps climbing like this, it could cross the danger line by this afternoon.”
Burichang Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), or Upazila executive officer, Tanvir Ahmed said danger was not imminent but urged residents to remain alert.
“The water is still 10 feet below the danger level. We’re asking people not to panic, but to remain cautious.
“We’ve already made arrangements to evacuate people from the Chars if needed,” he added. “The administration is fully prepared.
“We didn’t expect the water to rise so fast, so we’re inspecting the riverbanks directly.”
He added that unless rainfall continues or more water comes from upstream, the situation may not worsen further.
District Meteorologist Arifur Rahman confirmed the 129mm of rainfall and said similar heavy rain has also started across the border in India’s Tripura state.
Waliuzzaman of the water board said how critical the situation becomes now depends entirely on the weather.
“It all depends on how long this rain lasts,” he added.