UNB, Lalmonirhat: The flood situation in the northern district of Lalmonirhat has started improving as water levels in the Teesta and other rivers began to recede after days of heavy rainfall and onrush of hill water from upstream.
According to the Water Development Board (WDB), the Teesta was flowing 30 centimetres below the danger mark at Dalia Barrage point on Tuesday, offering temporary relief to thousands of marooned residents.
At the peak of flooding, around 4,000 people across five upazilas namely Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Sadar were trapped in inundated homes and villages.
Vast char areas and low-lying unions including Goddimari, Dowani, Saniajan, Sindurna, and Haldibari in Patgram; Votmari and Noali in Kaliganj; Mahishkhocha and Polashi in Aditmari; and several unions in Sadar were submerged.
Locals said many houses remain unusable of cooking and there is an acute shortage of safe drinking water, demanding urgent relief, including dry food and medical support.
Nurul Islam, WDB in-charge at Dalia Barrage, said the Teesta is now flowing 30 cm below the danger level. The water is likely to remain stable on Tuesday.
If rainfall does not resume, water levels will continue to fall and the situation will normalise quickly, he hoped.
Meanwhile, the district administration said relief efforts are underway, with distribution of dry food and safe water among the affected population to ease immediate suffering.
