Major rivers flow above danger mark in Brahmaputra basin

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Major rivers marked further rise to flow above the danger mark (DM) at two points slowly creating a flood-like situation inundating low-lying areas in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today, BSS reports.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of all major rivers might continue to rise further due to onrush of water amid monsoon rains both in the upstream and downstream areas during the next 24 hours.

A bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB today said the Dharla and Jamuna were flowing above the DM at Kurigram and Sariakandi points and might cross the DM at Kazipur point during the next 24 hours.

During the past 24 hours till 9am today, the recorded rainfalls were 41mm at Dibrugarh and 38mm at Cherrapunji points in the upstream northeastern Indian states of the Brahmaputra basin.

Besides, the recorded rainfalls during the period till 9am today were 210mm at Gaibandha, 112mm at Dalia, 103mm at Panchagarh, 62mm at Kurigram and 53mm at Jamalpur monitoring points of BWDB in the basin.

“The Dharla was flowing 30cm above the DM at Kurigram at 9 pm today inundating some low-lying areas under Sadar and Fulbari upazilas with sporadic erosion at places,” said Executive Engineer of Kurigram division of BWDB Md. Ariful Islam.

Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project division of BWDB Rabiul Islam said the Teesta was flowing below the DM by 35cm at Dalia and 25cm at Kawnia points at 9 am today.

Executive Engineer of BWDB for Gaibandha division Mokhlesur Rahman said water level of the Ghagot rose by 19cm during the last 24 hours and was flowing 49cm below the DM at Gaibandha point at 9am.

Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked rise by 5cm at Noonkhawa and 16cm at Chilmari and Jamuneswari by 116cm at Badarganj points during the last 24 hours.

Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp rises by 29cm at Fulchhari, 37cm at Bahadurabad, 36cm at Sariakandi, 27cm at Kazipur and 32cm at Sirajganj points in Sirajganj during the period.

The Brahmanpara was flowing below the DM by 60cm at Noonkhawa and 22cm at Chilmari in Kurigram while Jamuneswari was flowing below the DM by 53cm at Badarganj in Rangpur at 9am today.

The Jamuna was flowing 21cm below the DM each at Fulchhari in Gaibandha and Bahadurabad in Jamalpur while above the DM by 7cm at Sariakandi in Bogura and below the DM by 3cm at Kazipur and 16cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.

Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said water levels of major rivers might continue to rise during the next 24 hours at most points with a possibility of a short-term fourth time flood in the basin.

“However, there is a possibility of improvement of the situation as monsoons rains might not continue in the Brahmaputra basin within the next few days to end the short term flood-like situation in the basin,” Ghosh added.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain today told BSS that the district administrations and authorities of BWDB are closely monitoring the situation across Rangpur division to take steps if necessary anywhere.