Major rivers marked further rise at most places deteriorating the flood situation and inundating fresh low-lying areas and standing crops in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said the Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Ghagot, Jamuneswari and Kartoa marked further rise while Dharla and Teesta fell due to onrush of water from upstream despite no rainfalls on Monday in the basin.
According to the BWDB’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre’s flood situation bulletin, water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river systems are in rising trend which may continue in next 24 hours in the Brahmaputra basin.
Acting Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Md. Moniruzzaman said standing crops on 48,501 hectares of land submerged in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region alone till Tuesday.
“Despite improvement of the weather situation from Sunday afternoon, the inundated area of crop lands continues to rise since September 22 last in the region,” Moniruzzaman said, adding that standing crops are still being inundated in Gaibandha district.
The current deluge has so far submerged standing crops on 18,330 hectares of land in Rangpur, 6,685 hectares in Gaibandha, 18,500 hectares in Kurigram, 1,356 hectares in Nilphamari and 3,630 hectares of land in Lalmonirhat districts of the region.
“We are fearing notable crop losses mainly in Kurigram and Gaibandha districts where the submerged crop land are remained under flood waters since September 22 last while floodwaters are receding from other affected districts in the region,” he added.
BWDB officials said the huge logged water caused by last Sunday’s heaviest rains of the season mostly receded from affected areas in all eight districts of Rangpur division under Rangpur zone of BWDB.
During the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on Tuesday almost no rainfall, except little drizzles at places, was recorded anywhere in Rangpur division.
Water levels of the Jamuneswari further rose by 3cm at Badarganj, Kartoa by 24cm at Chak Rahimpur and Jamuna by 1cm at Sariakandi while Dharla fell by 13cm at Kurigram points during the last 24 hours.
The Jamuneswari and Kartoa were flowing above the danger mark (DM) by 77cm each at Badarganj and Chak Rahimpur and Dharla by 21cm at Kurigram and Jamuna by 8cm at Sariakandi points at 9am on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, water levels of the Brahmaputra rose by 2cm at Noonkhawa and 4cm at Chilmari during the last 24 hours and were flowing below the DM by 67cm and 23cm at these points respectively at 9am on Tuesday.
During the period, water levels of the Jamuna fell by 1cm at Fulchhari while rose by 1cm each at Bahadurabad and Sirajganj and 2cm at Kazipur and were flowing below the DM by 26cm, 22cm, 17cm and 4cm at these points respectively at 9am on Tuesday.
However, water levels of the Teesta fell by 17cm at Dalia and 7cm at Kawnia during the period and were flowing below the DM by 55cm and 40cm at these points respectively at 9am on Tuesday.
Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said a flood situation is prevailing in some areas of Kurigram and Gaibandha while floodwaters receded from Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts under the zone of BWDB.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Kurigram Abdul Hye said distribution of 85 tonnes of rice, 2,000 packets of dry foods, Taka one lakh for baby foods and Taka four lakh for animal fodders continues among flood-hit people.
Rangpur DRRO ATM Akhteruzzaman said the district administration continues distribution of already allocated 70 tonnes of rice, 400 packets of dry foods and Taka one lakh among affected people of the district where the flood situation has already improved.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Abu Jafar said the flood situation has already improved in the district where distribution of 115 tonnes of rice and 810 packets of dry foods continues among flood-affected people.