Flood situation in Ganges basin continues to remain steady

Overall flood situation in the Ganges basin remained steady for the second consecutive day on Monday as water levels in many of its rivers and tributaries recorded a rising and falling trend in the past 24 hours ending in the morning.

Of the 30 river points, monitored in the Ganges basin, water levels receded at 19 points, while increased at nine points and remained stable at two other points, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

However, the rivers were still flowing below the danger level at 27 points while above the danger level at three points.

Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded a falling trend at all the four points of the Ganges River, while the Padma River recorded rising trend at two points and falling trend at two other points.

The Ganges River receded by eight Centimeter (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, four cm at Rajshahi, two cm at Hardinge Bridge and nine cm atTalbaria points, Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB.

Water level in the Korotoa further went up by 11 cm and 16 cm at Chak Rahimpur, while declined by one cm at Bogura points afresh.

The Gur River increased by eight cm further at Singra in Natore, while the Atrai River remained stable at Baghabari in Sirajganj.

FFWC Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a falling trend has been recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River further excepting one this morning. The river was flowing below the danger level at all its points except one.

The Mahananda River also increased by two cm at Rohanpur, while receded by three cm at Chapainawabganj point.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels increased at three points, receded at ten points and remained stable at three other points.

The rivers were flowing below the danger level in 15 points and above the danger level in one point this morning like the previous day.

Meanwhile, the local administrations have been continuously distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas since the flood began.

Around 2.18 lakh families consisting of around 9.81 lakh people affected badly by the flood have, so far, received relief materials to overcome their livelihood related hardships caused by the natural disaster in different districts of Rajshahi division.

The government, as part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the catastrophic situation, has, so far, allocated 1,521.14 tons of rice, Tk 39.02 lakh in cash, 16,980 packets of dry-food, Tk 21 lakh for baby food and Tk 40 lakh for animal feed.

Moinul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is in the final stage.

Apart from this, 2,238.5 tons of rice, Tk 35.87 lakh, 3,620 packets of dry food, Taka three lakh for baby food and Tk five lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution.

Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood affected people amid the novel coronavirus.

Some 5,449 patients were reported to have suffered from various water-related diseases and 24 people died with flood related incidents, particularly drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources added.