Rajshahi, July 25 – Incessant rise of water level of the most rivers in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, triggered by heavy downpour and onrush of water from upper catchment for the last couple of days further worsened the flood situation in the region. Water level in the existing rivers rose at 11 points and receded in two points only in most of the districts of Rajshahi division aggravating the flood situation in the char (river bed) and other low-lying areas of Sirajgonj, Bogura, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi districts.
The local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a rising trend of water levels at almost all points like Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria and Goalunda in the past 24 hours ending 9 am today, said Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB.
The water level of the Ganges River increased by 11 cm at Rajshahi point and six centimetres (CM) at Goalundo point this morning but the river was flowing 181 cm below the danger level at Rajshahi point while 111 cm above the danger mark at Goalundo point, he added.
Of the total 30 river points being monitored in Ganges Basin regularly, water levels increased at 15 stations, while decreased at 13 stations and remained stable at two points at 9 am today.
Besides, the water level of the Jamuna River which flowing in Bogura and Sirajganj districts has also seen a rising trend this morning worsening the flood situation in the two districts further.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, the Executive Engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in the Jamuna River increased by six cm at Sariakandi point in Bogura district flowing 117 cm above the danger mark while the river is flowing 94 cm and 83 cm above the danger level with 6 cm and 5 cm further rise at Kazipur and Sirajgonj points respectively this morning.
He also said the water level in Gur River increased by seven cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 90 cm above the danger mark.
The River was flowing 102 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with six cm further rise this morning.
The water level in the Atrai River also increased by 12 cm at Atrai point in Naogaon district and the river was flowing 27 cm above the danger mark.
Of the 13 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in almost all eight districts under Rajshahi division, water levels increased at 11 stations, while decreased at two stations.
Flood situation in many areas has worsened because of the inundation of new more areas and the damage of flood control embankments at different areas in the division.
On Friday, more than one hundred dwelling houses were devoured in river erosion caused by rising flood water in Jamuna River at Shimla and Pachkuthari areas in Sadar Upazila of Sirajganj district.
Standing crops on around 4,195 hectares of land at Hapania, Hasaigari, Balihari and Sirakarpur unions in Naogaon district were inundated due to damage of a flood control embankment in Atrai River.
State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak has distributed relief materials among around 500 people of four flood affected areas in Singra Upazila Friday. He also distributed 12 boats among the worst-affected people.
Moinul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division, said the district and Upazila administrations with the local public representatives have further intensified relief activities in the worst-affected areas.
He also said the district administrations and BWDB are closely monitoring the situation and taking instant steps when and where necessary during the deluge in Rajshahi division.
Around 5.51 lakh people of 1.38 lakh flood-affected households are getting relief materials in different districts to mitigate their livelihood-related sufferings in the disaster.
The government has been distributing relief materials like 674.15 tonnes of rice, TK 11.44 lakh in cash, TK four lakh for baby food, around 4.25 lakh packets of dry foods and another TK four lakh for cattle-feed in the worst-affected areas of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj and Bogura districts.
The government has also stocks of another 1,484.85 tonnes of rice, TK 34.04 lakh in cash, TK six lakh for baby food, 8,150 packets of dry foods and TK six lakh for cattle feed for all the eight districts in the division to cope tackle the adverse situation.
If necessary, there are also additional relief materials of 1,500 tonnes of rice, TK six lakh for baby food, 15,000 packets of dry food and TK 15 lakh for cattle-feed for Sirajgonj, Bogura and Pabna districts, Mainul Islam added.
