Flood turns worse

The overall flood situation takes a serious turn with incessant rain and onrushing water from upstream during the last few days in north and north eastern districts. Onrushing water and rain have already inundated low-lying areas along the river banks of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram. Meanwhile, the water level of the Jamuna River in Sirajganj has risen by 46 cm in the last 24 hours due to incessant rain for several days. However, the Sirajganj Water Development Board has confirmed that the water is still flowing 1.41 meter below the danger level.

Talking to media Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Lalmonirhat said for now, the water of all rivers in the two districts including Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla are still flowing below the danger level on Friday morning. 

But, "incessant rain and onrush water from the upstream may cause rise of water level in rivers. Flood may occur along the riverside in the next 2-3 days," the engineer said.

The Water Development Board is prepared to evacuate people living in risky areas along the riverside and protect the flood control dykes, he added.

Although the water is flowing below the danger level, the char areas of the district and the low-lying areas along the river have started flooding. Erosion has occurred in several areas of Sadar, Chowhali, Shahjadpur and Kazipur upazilas.

Sirajganj Water Development Board executive engineer Shafiqul Islam said the water level of the Jamuna River has been rising for the last few days due to continuous rain and downpour coming from the upstream.

He said the water level has risen by 48 cm in the last 24 hours, adding that if the water level continues to rise in the next few days, there is a possibility of exceeding the danger level

Many houses on the banks of the river and in char areas were flooded and crop fields and roads submerged.

Mostaque Ali (63), a farmer from Khuniagachh village on the bank of the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said that river-water flooded their village this morning.

Many homes are now under knee-deep water. If the rains continue, the water level will rise.

Seventy percent of the area in Mahishkhocha Union Parishad in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat is on the bank of the Teesta river, said Mosaddek Hossain Chowdhury, Union Parishad's chairman. As the Teesta water rose, about 2,000 families in his union were left stranded. At the same time river erosion has taken serious turn in many places, he said.

Manser Ali (60), a farmer from Shimulbari village in Kurigram's Phulbari upazila, said that 200 families in their village were affected by flash floods from the Dharla river water. The water level has been rising since Friday morning. The crop fields of the village have been submerged as well.

Delowar Hossain, a farmer from Char Parbati area of Kurigram Sadar upazila, said that the water level of the Brahmaputra River continued to rise. The chars were submerged and they are having to travel by boat. Many homes went under knee-deep water.