Water level rising continues in Ganges basin

Amidst heavy downpour and incessant onrushing of water from upstream over the past one week, water level in Ganges basin has increased further escalating a flood situation in char (sandbar) and other low-lying areas in the region.

Local office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded rising trend of water level at almost all points like Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria and Goalanda in the past 24 hours ending 9:00am Tuesday, said Mukhlesur Rahman, superintending engineer of BWDB.

The water level in Ganges further rose to one centimeter (CM) and two cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and at Rajshahi stations respectively during the past 24 hours but was flowing 184 cm and 188 cm below the danger levels at the two stations, he added.

Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in Atrai river increased 106 centimeters at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon district but flowing 129 cm below the danger mark while it is flowing seven cm below the danger level with 14 cm rise afresh at Atrai point this morning.

Of the 13 river points monitored in almost eight districts under Rajshahi division, water levels increased at nine stations, while decreased at three stations and remained static at one point in the last 24 hours.

Engineer Bhuiyan said water levels in the Jamuna river have been receding continuously for the last couple of days but were still flowing above danger marks at Sariakandi in Bogura and Kazipur and Sirajganj stations.

The Gur river was also flowing 67 cm above the danger mark at Singra in Natore with rise of 10 cm afresh while the Atrai River flowing 100 cm above the danger mark at Baghabari in Sirajganj point. Meanwhile, many areas have become waterlogged and flood-affected due to inundation of mainland and damaging of flood control embankments at different areas in the division.

Around 31,836 households consisting 128,000 people at 158 char and other low-lying villages were affected by the floodwater besides submerging crops on 8,831 hectares of land in Bogura district as its Jamuna River was following 88 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi point.

In Naogaon district, around 18,800 families have, so far, been affected in Sadar, Manda, Atrai and Raninagar upazilas while 600 other families in Shingra and Naldanga upazilas in Natore, said Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division.

Ten villages have also become waterlogged due to damaging of some parts of Nandaibari-Krishnapur-Malanchi flood control embankment on Little Jamuna river in Raninagar upazila of the same district that inundated many adjacent areas besides affecting crops and fish farms.

Around 337,000 people of 676.5 square-kilometer low-lying areas were affected and standing crops on around 14,013 hectares of land were submerged in sadar, Kazipur, Belkuchi, Chowhali, Shahjadpur and Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj. Jamuna river was flowing above danger marks at the Sirajgonj, Baghabari and Kajipur points, said Islam adding, the district and upazila administrations with local public representatives have further intensified relief activities in the worst-affected areas.

He also said the district administrations and BWDB are closely monitoring the situation and taking instant steps when and where necessary during the deluge in Rajshahi division.