Upstream areas along Teesta River likely to experience flash floods

The upstream areas along the Teesta River, including Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha, are likely to experience flash floods after heavy downpours in North Sikkim.

The Teesta water was below the danger level at the Dalia and Kownia points on Wednesday morning, but there is a high chance for the river to overflow in the next 24 hours as upstream tidal surge floods the banks, reports bdnews24.com.

According to the Indian Central Water Commission, the Chung Thang Dam over the Teesta River in North Sikkim was damaged, causing the river water level to rise fast upstream, said Sardar Uday Rahman, executive engineer of the Water Development Board.

The water level increased 285 centimetres at Gazaldoba point from midnight and currently stands at 110.30 metres. It rose 82 centimetres at Domuhoni point, pushing the level up to 85.95 metres. The rise in the water level is likely to continue.

The Teesta flowed 80 centimetres below the danger level at 9 am on Wednesday when the water level stood at 51.35 metres.

“It may rise further and cross the danger level by the afternoon and flow 50 centimetres over the danger level by midnight," the WDB engineer said.

At Kownia point, the water level stood at 28.15 metres, which was 60 centimetres below the danger level, at 9 am on Wednesday. It may cross the danger level by tomorrow morning.

As a result, vast stretches of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha next to the Teesta river may get flooded, the official said.

He also said that the Indian Met Office forecasts heavy downpours in Sikkim in the next 48 hours and the Teesta flood situation will continue.