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Teesta swells; flood risk rises in northern districts

Following incessant rainfall over the past few days, water levels in Teesta and other major rivers are rising, triggering widespread flood concerns in the northern districts.

According to officials from the Water Development Board (WDB), the Teesta river is flowing 31cm above the danger level at Kaunia Point in Rangpur since 9:00am today.

Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat WDB, said the water level at the Teesta Barrage point in Doani area of Hatibandha upazila is just one cm below the danger mark.

Meanwhile, at Shimulbari point in Lalmonirhat, the Dharla River is flowing 62cm below the danger level. In Kurigram, the Brahmaputra river remains below the danger level at Chilmari, Noonkhawa, and Hatia points, he added.

However, with the Teesta water already above the danger level at Kaunia, there are concerns that it could breach the danger level at other points, raising the risk of floods. The swelling Teesta and Dharla rivers have already inundated low-lying areas and char lands along their banks, Kumar added.

Rakibul Hasan, executive engineer of Kurigram WDB, said that while the water levels of rivers in Kurigram, including the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar, and Jinjiram, remain below the danger level, the situation may get worsened as the Teesta continues to rise.

Six unions in Rajarhat, Ulipur, and Chilmari upazilas of Kurigram are at risk of flooding, he said.

Farmer Noor Mohammad of Khalaighat area in Rajpur Union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said that water from the Teesta began entering his home last night and by this morning, his house was partially flooded. He and his family are getting prepared to leave the house if the water rises further.

Similarly, Anwar Hossain, a farmer from Ghatiashyam village in Gharialdanga Union of Rajarhat upazila, reported that floodwaters have submerged his vegetable and Aman paddy fields. He expressed concern that if the water does not recede soon, the damage to his crops could be severe.

Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kurigram, said that the Aman crop is unlikely to be severely impacted but a prolonged flood could devastate vegetable farms. However, the extent of crop damage remains uncertain at this time.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner HM Raqib Hayder said that preparations are in place to handle any flood situation. Monitoring efforts have been intensified along the Teesta river’s banks to manage the rising water levels.

Meanwhile, according to Mohammad Rashedin, sub-engineer of the WDB’s Dalia branch, the Teesta crossed danger levels at both the Dalia and Kaunia points.

To manage the rising pressure, all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened, he added.

Our Dinajpur correspondent adds, approximately 330 millimeters of rainfall have been recorded over the last two days, raising concerns about flooding and river erosion in the Teesta basin in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center.

As flood fears intensify, locals have been reporting rising of water levels in almost all the rivers since yesterday. Low-lying areas in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, Kaliganj, Jharsingheshwar, Khagarchar, and Juar Char areas in Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari, as well as Hatibandha and Patgram upazilas of Lalmonirhat, have already been submerged.

Residents in these areas are facing severe difficulties as floodwaters enter their homes, making it challenging to safeguard livestock, poultry, and personal belongings. Daily life has been severely disrupted.

Akhtar Alam, a resident of Chhota Khata village in Dimla, said river water has already inundated his home. “We are in grave danger with our cattle, goats, poultry, and children,” he shared.

Nazarul Islam Haqqani, president of the ‘Save Teesta, Save Rivers’ movement, said, “Unseasonal floods and erosion cause the Teesta to devour assets worth Tk one billion every year.”

He stressed the need for river dredging, conservation, and the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

Mohammad Mostafizar Rahman, in-charge of the Rangpur Meteorological Office, reported 130 millimeters of rainfall in Rangpur on Saturday, with similar amounts recorded the previous day. More heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days, exacerbating the flood risk.

Source: The Daily Star

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