Flood worsens again in Kurigram, Nilphamari districts

Kurugram, July 11 – After showing slight improvement last week, flood situation has deteriorated again in Kurigram and Nilphamari districts as Brahmaputra, Dharla and Teesta rivers are flowing above the danger level. In Nilphamari, the situation has worsened as the water level of the Teesta river is rising and inundating more areas for the fourth phases.
The Teesta is flowing 24 centimetres above the danger level in Dalia point at 6 am on Saturday, leaving around 5,000 people marooned in the low-lying areas.
The flood forecasting centre of the Dalia Water Development Board in Nilphamari said the water level in the Teesta River has been rising since Friday night.
The 44 water gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open to control the flow of water.
About 5,000 people in five unions living the near the Teesta River banks in Dimla Upazila have been marooned due to swelling of river water, said the chairmen of those unions.
Meanwhile, people and cattle have been evacuated from Chhatnai, Jharsingeshwar, Charkharibari, East Kharibari, West Kharibari, Teesta Bazar, Baishpukur, Chatunama and Vendabari areas.
Rabiul Islam, the executive engineer of WDB of Dalia, said the flood situation has taken a serious turn following on-rush of water from the upstreams.
To keep the situation under control, 44 water gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open, he added.
In Kurigram, flood situation has worsened and erosion has also taken a serious turn following the rise of water levels in the rivers.
The flood control dam in Ververi area of Holokhana union in the district headquarters is under threat.
According to WDB, in the last 24 hours, the water level in the Teesta has risen by 28 cms and is flowing 2 cm below the danger level.
Besides, the water levels in Dharla has increased by 15 cms, at Nunkhawa point of the Brahmaputra river by 19 cms and at Chilmari point by 14 cms. – UNB