The water level of the Teesta and Dharala rivers are flowing above the danger level on Friday due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from the hilly areas in the upstream.
Robiul Islam, executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board in Dalia division, said that the Teesta River was flowing at least 20 centimetres above the danger level at Dalia point while the Dharala 15 centimetres above at Kulaghat point in the morning, flooding vast areas of 12 upazilas including– Gangachara, Kawnia, Pirgacha, Sundarganj, Fulchhari, Rajarhat, Olipur, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat Sadar.
Several thousands of people in the unions of Hatibandha, Kakina and Votemari union parishads of Kaliganj upazila, Mohishkhocha of Aditmari upazila, Khuniagachh, Mogholhat, Kulaghat, Rajpur areas of Sadar upazila, Nohali,Mohipur,Gojogantha of Gangachara Upazila, Haragach, Balapara, Modhupur of Kawnia upazila, Chawla, Pawtana of Pirgachca, Gorildhanga, and Biddyananda of Rajarhat upazila are now marooned by the floodwater.
If the flow of onrush of water from the hilly areas continues, some 56 villages of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur would be flooded, the local administration apprehended.
Meanwhile, the officials at local BWDB office warned the residents of the low-lying areas of the Teesta and Dharala to remain alert about the latest flood situation.
Rangpur divisional commissioner KM Tarikul Islam said they were monitoring the situation and had asked the higher authorities for relief for the affected people.
WDB sources said that onrush of hilly waters caused concern as India had opened 54 gates of Gajaldoba Barrage and issued alert in the adjacent areas. Teesta Barrage authority also opened 44 gates to tackle the pressure of gushing water from upstream. Areas of 56 villages in 12 upazilas in Rangpur division went under water, leaving 40,000 people marooned on Friday.
Meanwhile, embankment at Dhubni point under Singimari union in Hatibandha upazila was eroded due to the pressure of gushing water which causes fear of further erosion.
Monour Hossain, chairman of Singimari union, said, ‘Now the rivers Teesta and Saniazan are separated by only one metre area. If the erosion by both of the rivers started together, at least two lakh people of the district will be left marooned.’ Joity Prashad Gosh chief engineer of Water Devlopment Board in Northern Zone said, ‘We started dumping sand bags in the affected areas to prevent further erosion.’
