Nearly 2,000 families stranded as flood hits 15 Rangpur villages

Nearly 2,000 families were stranded after their homes submerged following heavy floods which hit at least 15 villages in Rangpur’s Gangachhara upazila.

The villages, on the banks of the Teesta River, have been inundated for the third time this year due to incessant rains and rising water levels.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), water levels in the Teesta River were 15cm below the danger level at Dahlia point on Saturday morning, but it was flowing 10cm above the danger level at Gangachara point in Rangpur.

Char Shankardah in Kolkond Union has suffered the most damage, especially Isli Mukut Village, which has left around 1,000 families marooned.

The local Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Hadi called for safe evacuation by megaphone till late on Friday to evacuate stranded people to flood shelters.

Many families were moving to shelter with their cattle and belongings as almost all houses in Char Ishli, and Shankar Dah villages were submerged, he said.

Executive Engineer Ahsan Habib of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), said after the water level in Dalia point rose, the lower regions, especially in the lower part of Gangachara upazila, Laxmitari, and Kaunia were flooded in just 12 hours.

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"The water level in the Teesta river is rising due to heavy rainfall coming from upstream India and the water levels in Rangpur may reach danger level again,” he added.

Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Taslima Begum said many people have been stranded due to the inundation of water in different parts of the upazila.

The administration has already distributed food aid to the flood-affected people.

Meanwhile, the Dudhkumar River was flowing above the danger level by 15cm at Pateshwari, Dharla by 32cm in Kurigram and the Brahmaputra by 20cm above the danger level at Chilmari point in Kurigram district on Saturday morning.

Additionally, the Jamuna River was flowing above the danger level by 2cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 22cm at Sariakandi in Bogra district and 17 at Kazipur and 26cm above the danger level in Sirajganj.