Dhaka, July 28:The flood situation has worsened further in the Ganges Basin due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from the upstream, while flood scenario continues to improve in Brahmaputra basin.
Continuous rise in water levels of most of the rivers in the Ganges basin contributed to further deterioration of the flood situation there, according to officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Of 30 river points monitored in Ganges basin today, water levels increased at 18 stations, while decreased at nine stations and remained stable at three points, aggravating the flood situation in chars and other low-lying areas, BSS Rajshahi correspondent reports.
But, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 23 points, while these were swelling up above the danger mark at six points this morning.
The rising trend of water levels in all river points, including Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria and Goalunda, were recorded in the last 24 hours ending 9 am today, said BWDB superintending engineer Mukhlesur Rahman told BSS.
He said water level of the Ganges River went up by five cm at Pankha point in Chapainawabganj, four cm at Rajshahi point, and three cm at Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points each, while the Padma River water level increased by one cm at Goalunda point.
But, Mukhlesur said, the Ganges River was flowing 159 cm below the danger level at Rajshahi point and 166 cm bellow at Pankha point.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in the Korotoa River increased by two cm at Bogura point, while decreased by 24 cm at Chak Rahimpur point.
The river was flowing 147 cm and five cm below the danger mark at the two stations respectively this morning, he added.
The Jamuna River water level decreased by 13 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, nine cm at Kajipur in Sirajganj and 11 cm at Sirajganj point. But the river was still flowing 100 cm, 84 cm and 73 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
The water level of Gur River rose by five cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 91 cm above the danger mark. The Atrai River was flowing 112 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj with one cm further rise.
Water level of the Mohananda River also decreased by three cm at Rohanpur point in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 76 cm below the danger mark.
BSS Rangpur correspondent reports despite sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion in major rivers in Brahmaputra basin, the overall flood situation improved there in the last 24 hours ending at 9am today.
BWDB officials said water levels of all major rivers marked further fall during the period and were still flowing above the danger levels at nine points in five northern districts.
To deal with the flood consequences, the district administrations have already intensified relief programmes in eight flood-hit northern districts.
BWDB executive engineer for Kurigram and Lalmonirhat divisions Ariful Islam said riverbank protection works continue at some vulnerable points in these districts where the flood situation is improving now.
BWDB chief engineer for Rangpur Zone Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said the sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion were reported at a few places along the major rivers in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts.
The BWDB officials said water levels of the Dharla fell by 18 cm at Kurigram and Ghagot River receded by 17cm at Gaibandha and Brahmaputra water level decreased by 20 cm at Noonkhawa point and 10 cm at Chilmari point during the last 24 hours.
Besides, the water levels of the Jamuna fell by 17 cm at Fulchhari point, 15 cm at Bahadurabad point, 13 cm at Sariakandi point, 9 cm at Kazipur point and 11 cm at Sirajganj point during the period ending 9 am today.
The Brahmaputra was still flowing 20 cm above the danger level at Noonkhawa point and 47 cm above at Chilmari point, while the Dharla River 7 cm above at Kurigram point and Ghagot River was flowing 54 cm above the danger mark at Gaibandha point.
The Jamuna was flowing 79 cm above the danger mark at Fulchhari point, 89 cm above at Bahadurabad point, 100 cm above at Sariakandi point, 84 cm above at Kazipur point and 73 cm above at Sirajganj point during the same period.
Meanwhile, the government has asked the authorities concerned to perform their responsibilities with utmost sincerity and devotion in carrying out relief and rescue operations as well as managing shelter centres in flood-hit districts.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus came up with the instruction at a coordination meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here today, a PMO press release said.
The meeting reviewed the country’s ongoing flood situation, relief and rehabilitation programmes, shelter centres management, rescue operations, assessment of loss and damage caused by flood in agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors and the overall flood management.
As per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dr Ahmad Kaikaus asked the officials concerned to take steps to ensure transportation and communication, check riverbank erosion, and ensure health services, transportation of goods, relief distribution and food security in the flood-affected areas.
He said the prime minister has already instructed to assess the loss caused in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors due to flooding and provide incentives to these sectors.
The principal secretary urged the officials concerned to implement the instructions of the premier within shortest possible time.
In addition to this, he directed the authorities concerned to make overall preparation if the flood situation worsens during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha holidays.
Chaired by Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, the meeting was attended, among others, by the senior secretaries of the Water Resources Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry, and the secretaries of the PMO, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and the Food Ministry.
