Sylhet flood situation ‘stable’, river water surging in the north

Flooding north and northwestern regions may deteriorate in the north and northwest while the situation will be stable in the northeastern Sylhet region, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has said.

Except the Kushiyara, the water level of other major rivers in Bangladesh’s northeastern region is decreasing and it may continue in the next 24 hours.

As a result, the flood situation in Sylhet may remain stable, the centre said in its bulletin on Thursday.

However, the Teesta, the Dharla, the Ghagot and the Dudhkumar rivers in the country’s northern region may rise rapidly in the next 48 hours.

The Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers may flow above the danger level for a short duration.

The flood situation in the low-lying regions along the Dharla and the Ghagot in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts may slightly deteriorate.

The Jamuneswari, the Karatoa, the Bangali, the Upper Karatoa, the Punarbhaba, the Tangon, the Ichhamoti-Jamuna, the Atrai, the Mohananda and the Little-Jamuna rivers in the country’s northern and northwestern regions may rise rapidly in the next 48 hours.

The flood forecasting centre said the water level of the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Padma rivers are in a rising trend, which may continue for the next 72 hours.

In the next 24 hours, the flood situation at some low-lying parts of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers along Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogura and Sirajganj districts may deteriorate, while the water level may cross the danger level at some points in Tangail, the forecast read.

The water of the country’s nine rivers was flowing above the danger level at 19 points at 9am on Thursday. Among them, the water has receded at five points but increased at the other 14 points.

Heavy rain and a surge of runoff triggered floods in the Sylhet region at the start of June. Though the situation improved several days later, many areas in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts went under water after two days of torrential rain before Eid-ul-Azha on Jun 17.

Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer of the flood forecasting centre, said: “The upstream areas are experiencing a little heavy downpour now but it has been expected that the flood situation in Sylhet may not deteriorate further. The country’s flood situation is likely to improve from Jul 7.”

HEAVY RAINS LIKELY IN THREE DIVISIONS

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted moderately heavy or heavy rain in Sylhet, Chattogram and Rangpur divisions although the scale of rainfall across the country decreased.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty wind, is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours from Thursday morning, according to the forecast.

Moderately heavy to heavy falls may occur at places over the Rangpur, Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions, the BMD said.

Meteorologist Afroza Sultana told bdnews24.com, “The amount of rain has decreased; it will drop further in a day or two. But there will be rain. The weather will swing between sunshine and rain.”

Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila saw the country’s highest rainfall at 87mm in the 24 hours until 6am on Thursday. Panchagarh, Kishoreganj, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur have also seen some rain.

Generally, 1-10 mm of rain a day is called light rain, 11-22 mm is moderate, 23-44 mm is moderately heavy, 44-88 mm is heavy, and over 88 mm is very heavy.