Barguna rivers flow 7 feet high above normal astronomical tide
Three rivers in Barguna have been flowing at least six-seven feet high above the danger level due to super cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal.
Of the six upazilas of Barguna, lower areas of Amtali, Taltali, Patharghata and Barguna sadar upazilas went under water on Wednesday noon due to the super cyclone.
AccuWeather’s lead international forecaster Jason Nicholls on Tuesday said Amphan is the first super cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal since the 1999 Odisha Cyclone.
Local administration has already evacuated people to safer places.
Abdus Salam, a resident of Patharghata upazila by Bishkhali river, said the flow of water is more than normal astronomical tide, which the Water Development Board’s Barguna office employee Md. Mahtab Hossain reiterated.
Al Amin, a resident of Bainchatki Ferry Ghat area of Barguna, said the water level of Bishkhali river in this area has swelled up so much that the connecting road and gangway of the Ferry Ghat has gone under water. It does not happen unless the river does not flow six-seven feet high above the astronomical tide.
Shahin, a resident of Bogi rea of Barguna’s Taltali upazila, said huge waves are being seen in Payra river. The level of tide has gone up. It won’t take much time to inundate locality if the water level continues swelling up at this rate, he said.
Water Development Board’s Barguna office employee Md. Mahtab Hossain said the hight of high tide at Barguna was 2.85 centimetre, which is equal to danger level, around 9:00am. Just after one hour, the water level swelled up to 3.10 centimetre.
He also said the three main rivers in Barguna were flowing above 25 centimetre of danger level around 1:00pm.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Water Development Board engineer Kaiser Ahmed said, the tidal waters have been flowing at least 6-7 feet high above the astronomical tide.
Barguna deputy commissioner Mostain Billah said, “The met office earlier warned us that there could be 10-15 feet tidal surge because of the cyclone. We’ve got news of tidal surge in three main rivers of Barguna but did not receive any news of inundation of any locality.”