Rajshahi, Aug 24: Water levels in many of the rivers in the Ganges basin were recorded a rising trend today like the previous couple of days because of onrushing of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas continuously. Of the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels increased at 14 points, while receded at 15 points and remained stable at one point, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 27 points, while above the danger level at three points.
“We recorded falling trends in many rivers, including Ganges, Padma and some of the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin today,” Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), told BSS this morning.
He said water level of the Ganges River receded by two centimeter (cm) at Hardinge Bridge and one cm each at Pankha point in Chapainawabganj, at Rajshahi and at Talbaria points afresh at 9 am today.
But, Mukhlesur said, the Ganges River was still flowing 165 cm, 183 cm, 110 cm and 75 cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively.
Water level of the Padma River declined by one cm further at Goalundo point, and the river was flowing 24 cm above the danger level at the point this morning, he added.
Korotoa River water level further declined by three cm at Chak Rahimpur point and one cm at Bogura point, and the river was flowing 275 cm and 356 cm below the danger mark at the two points respectively this morning.
Besides, a falling trend of water levels was recorded at the three points of the Jamuna River today. The water level receded by three cm at Sariakandi point in Bogura and one cm each Kazipur point in Sirajganj and at Sirajgonj point.
FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the Jamuna River was flowing one cm, seven cm and 12 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively.
He said the Gur River was flowing 21 cm below the danger level at Singra point in Natore with three cm fall further, while the Atrai River was flowing five cm above the danger mark at Baghabari point in Sirajganj with four cm fall this morning.
Water level in the Mohananda River went up by one cm at Chapainawabganj point, while the Atrai River increased by six cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon point afresh 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 14 points while increased at two points.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 15 points, while above the danger mark at one point during this morning.
Meanwhile, the district and upazila administrations with the local public representatives have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood situation began.
Around 2.16 lakh worst-affected families consisting 9.01 lakh people have, so far, received relief materials to overcome their livelihood related hardships caused by the flood in different districts under Rajshahi division.
As part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has disbursed 1,512 tonnes of rice, Taka 63.32 lakh in cash, 26,924 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 40 lakh for animal feed among the affected families in the division.
Moinul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division, said there are more other relief materials like 2,247 tonnes of rice, Taka 46.18 lakh, 4,076 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby food and Taka five lakh for animal feed remained in stock for distribution among the affected people.
If needed, there are relief items of 350 tonnes of rice, Taka 8 lakh in cash, Taka one lakh for baby food and another Taka three lakh for cattle feed for the hardest hit families in Bogura district, he added.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected people amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Some 3,822 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 18 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.
