Low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat have been flooded as water overflowed from Teesta after flash flood from the upstream during last two days. The water level of the river in northern Bangladesh is flowing just below the danger mark. At Hatibandha Teesta Barrage on Tuesday afternoon, the Water Development Board (WDB) measured the water levels, and found it to be flowing just 8cm below the danger level.
Meanwhile, Indian media NDTV said, the Disaster management Department has issued a warning of floods in some areas of West Bengal including Sikkim of India, due to sudden increase of water level in Teesta. To control the water, they opened 44 sluice gate of the barrage that causes flood in northern part of Bangladesh.
People living near the river banks said that some of their houses were already flooded. They were just hoping for a little relief from the scorching heat of summer, but all on a sudden the usually low flowing river was flooded by water from upstream. Locals said that, the sudden water rise has flooded nearby areas, which has affected 150-200 families. Dahagram of Panjgram upazila, Saniajan, Goddimari and Sindurna union of Hatibandha upazila have already been inundated due to rise of water in Teesta.
According to the Water Development Board (WDB), the danger level of water in Barrage area has been estimated at 52.60 cm. But alarmingly the water was flowing at the height of 52.34 cm in Teesta on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon it was flowing at 52.55 cm.
Abdul Karim, upazila nirbahi officer of Patgram, said the river's water was increased a little. But it could not reach the house of the people. Rabiul Islam, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board at Dalia said that the water level increased in Teesta due to the downstream from Sikkim in India.