Teesta water level continues to rise  

Teesta water level continues to rise   

 

Water level of Teesta River has continued to rise due to heavy rain for the last five days and rush of upstream water, causing severe flooding on both sides of the riverbanks.

On Saturday morning, the water of the river was flowing 53cm above the danger level.

Thousands of people in several upazilas of Lalmonirhat have become stranded due to the water entering their homes and flooding the roads.

Fourty-four sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage were opened to control the onrush of floodwater, but the water level has continued to rise.

Local administration and Lalmonirhat Water Development Board are cautioning people from Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat Sadar upazilas to leave their villages.

Water Development Board Deputy Assistant Engineer, Aminur Rashid, confirmed the matter.

He said: "There is a possibility the water level might continue to rise for the next 4-5 days. If necessary, the flood bypass at the north of Teesta Barrage, at Goddamari union under Hatibandha, will need to be cut off to keep the water flow normal."

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (Revenue) of Lalmonirhat district administration, Ahsan Habib, said they are constantly monitoring the situation at Goddamari.

"All people from that area have been asked to leave their villages," he said.

The district administration has taken full preparations to ensure safety for the flood-affected villagers, he said. "We are providing aid to them. There have been no reports of casualties yet."

Meanwhile, Lalmonirhat 1 MP and former state minister Lt (retd) Motahar Hosssain said six unions – including Dohogram in Patgram and Goddamari in Hatibandha – have become seriously affected by the floods.

"Three unions under Kaliganj, three unions under Sadar, and one union under Aditmari upazilas – all on the banks of Teesta River – have become submerged under water," he said.

"Thousands of suffering people have become trapped by the water," he said. "District administration has been instructed to stand by the people, in these dire times."