RAJSHAHI, Sept 6, 2020 (BSS) – Overall flood situation has started improving in the Ganges basin as water level in many of its rivers and tributaries has been declining for the couple of days in wake of reduction of onrushing of flood water from upstream hilly catchment areas.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded falling trends in many rivers, including Atrai, Mohananda, Ganges, Padma and the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin today, Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB, told BSS this morning.
He said water level of the Ganges River further declined by three centimeter (cm) each at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and Hardinge Bridge, four cm at Rajshahi and two cm at Talbaria points at 9 am today.
Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was flowing 211 cm, 218 cm, 157 cm and 129 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River declined by seven cm further at Goalundo point and it was flowing 44 cm below the danger level at the point this morning, he added.
Of the 30 monitored river points in the Ganges basin today, water levels receded at 22 points while increased at eight points, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points while above the danger level at one point like the previous day. Water level in the Korotoa River decreased by five cm and 24 cm afresh at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura points respectively and the river was flowing 269 cm and 336 cm below the danger level respectively this morning.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a falling trend has been recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River further today.
The water level declined by 17 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 13 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 15 cm at Sirajganj points. The Jamuna River was flowing 132 cm, 110 cm and 120 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively this morning. Water level in Atrai River receded by 26 cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon and one cm at Atrai points this morning.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels declined at all the points and the rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points this morning.
Engineer Bhuiyan said all the major rivers of the country are in falling trend and it may continue in next 48 hours and all the major rivers of the country are flowing below their respective danger levels.
Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began.
The government has distributed relief materials among around 2.17 lakh flood-affected families consisting 8.65 lakh people to lessen their financial hardships in the affected areas in Rajshahi division.
As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has, so far, allocated 1,547 tonnes of rice, Taka 38.10 lakh in cash, 16,580 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 40 lakh for animal feed. Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is on the final stage.
Apart from this, 2,239 tonnes of rice, Taka 37.41 lakh, 3,620 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby food and Taka five lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood affected people amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Some 4,715 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 23 deaths occurred mainly due to drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.
