Flood situation improves rapidly in Brahmaputra basin

The flood situation continued improving during the last 24 hours ending at 9am on Sunday, with sharp falls in water levels of the major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of major rivers marked sharp falls at all points, except Kazipur in Sirajganj, and were flowing above the danger level on Sunday, at eight points in the basin.

Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh today told BSS that incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from more areas alongside major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Lalmonirhat districts.

"Currently, riverbank protection works are continuing at several vulnerable points alongside major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin where the flood situation might continue improving during the next 72 hours," Ghosh added.

BWDB officials said water levels of the Dharla marked a fall by 17cm at Kurigram while the Brahmaputra marked a sharp fall by 26cm at Chilmari points during the last 24 hours ending at 9am on Sunday. 

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The Dharla was still flowing above the danger level by 44cm at Kurigram while the Brahmaputra by 17cm above the danger level at Kurigram points at 9am. 

Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp falls by 23cm at Fulchhari and 18cm at Shaghata in Gaibandha, 25cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 15cm at Sariakandi, 10cm at Sirajganj, while it rose by 24cm at Kazipur points in Sirajganj during the period.

However, the Jamuna was still flowing above the danger level by 25cm at Fulchhari and 12cm at Shaghata, 34cm at Bahadurabad, 53cm at Sariakandi, 91cm at Kazipur, and 57cm at Sirajganj points at 9am on Sunday. 

The Brahmaputra was flowing below the danger level by 41cm at Noonkhawa and 23cm at Hatia in Kurigram while Ghaghot by 4cm at Gaibandha while Teesta was flowing below the danger level by 20cm at Dalia points in Nilphamari. 

Talking to BSS, Executive Engineer of BWDB for Kurigram Division Ariful Islam said riverbank protection works are continuing at some vulnerable points alongside the major rivers of the district.

Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha Division of BWDB said riverbank protection works are continuing at a few vulnerable points alongside major rivers in the district.

Also Read - Flood situation improves in Jamalpur

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said floodwaters have submerged standing crops on over 30,000 hectares of land in the low-lying areas of Rangpur agriculture region alone till Saturday.

"The extent of crop damages would be less if the floodwaters started receding in a shorter period from submerged croplands in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Lalmonirhat districts," said Additional Director of the DAE's Rangpur region Bidhu Bhusan Ray.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said the district administrations have further intensified relief activities in flood-affected districts of Rangpur division.

Distribution of Tk3.5 lakh and 20 tons of rice among flood-affected people in Rangpur, 80 tons of rice and Tk8 lakh in Gaibandha, and 280 tons of rice and Tk12 lakh in Kurigram continues among flood-affected families.

Similarly, the district administrations are continuing relief activities in other flood-affected northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin, where the flood situation continues improving rapidly.