RAJSHAHI, Sept 10, 2020 (BSS) – The overall flood situation in the Ganges
basin remained steady today too like the previous couple of days as water
level in its rivers and tributaries recorded declining or rising trends this
morning.
Of the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels
receded at 16 points while increased at 12 points and remained steady at two
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 couple of days.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded rising
and falling trends in many rivers, including Korotoa, 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, however, said water level of the Ganges River declined by four
centimeters (cm) further at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, two cm each at
Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge and two cm at Talbaria points at 9 am today.
Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was still flowing 227 cm, 225 cm, 165 cm and
138 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and
Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River increased by one cm afresh at Goalundo point
and it was flowing 41 cm below the danger level at the point this morning, he
added. Water level in the Korotoa River declined by one cm at Chak Rahimpur,
while gone up by 19 cm at Bogura points and the river was still flowing 196
cm and 229 cm below the danger level respectively this morning.
The Gur River went up by one cm afresh at Singra in Natore, while the Atrai
River went up by three cm at Baghabari in Sirajgonj today.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a rising trend has been
recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River this morning like the
previous couple of days.
The water level went up by 26 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 23 cm at Kazipur
in Sirajganj and 19 cm at Sirajganj points afresh. The Jamuna River was still
flowing 67 cm, 53 cm and 74 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur
and Sirajganj points respectively.
The Little Jamuna River also went up by 13 cm at Naogaon, while the Atrai
River by 11 cm each at Mohadevpur in Naogaon and 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
increased at nine points and declined at seven points.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points this
morning.
Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief
materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began. The
government has brought around 2.17 lakh flood-affected families under the
distribution of relief materials 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 4,871 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.
