Teesta may cross danger mark in next 24 hours

The Teesta may cross its danger mark (DM) in the next 24 hours at Dalia Point in Nilphamari and Kawnia Point in Rangpur following the continuous sharp rise in water levels amid monsoon rains and onrushing water from upstream.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers may rise rapidly at times due to a chance of heavy rainfall upstream in the Brahmaputra basin in the next 24 to 48 hours.

"The Teesta may cross its DM at Dalia and Kawnia points in the next 24 hours," a bulletin issued by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB said on Sunday.

The Teesta was flowing below its DM by only 18cm at Dalia Point and 15cm below DM at Kawnia Point at 9am.

The recorded rainfalls during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today were 196mm at Pateshwari, 264mm at Kurigram, 54mm at Dalia, 95mm at Kawnia, 64mm at Chilmari, 57mm at Gaibandha and 62mm at Thakurgaon points in the Brahmaputra basin.

"In addition, the heavy rainfalls recorded during the period were 146mm at Dhubri, 195mm at Cherrapunji, 116mm at Jalpaiguri, 103mm at Passighat and 74mm at Siliguri points of the upstream northwestern Indian states," the bulletin said.

The Dudhkumar was flowing below DM by 90cm at Pateshwari, Dharla by 78cm below DM at Kurigram and Brahmaputra was flowing below its DM by 70cm at Noonkhawa, 51cm at Hatia and 61cm at Chilmari points respectively at 9am.

The Jamuna was flowing below DM by only 45cm at Fulchhari, 77cm at Shaghata, 43cm at Bahadurabad, 49cm at Sariakandi, 64cm at Kazipur and 44cm at Sirajganj points at 9am.

Local BWDB sources said a flood situation is being created in low-lying areas of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Rangpur districts alongside the Teesta following monsoon rains and an onrush of water from the upstream during the past few days.

BWDB's Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman told BSS that ample preparations have been taken to face any situation during seasonal floods in all eight districts of Rangpur division under BWDB's Rangpur zone.

"We are closely monitoring the growing flood situation alongside conducting repairing works of flood control structures, devices and embankments at vulnerable points," he said.

The Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, BWDB authorities, local monitoring committees and public representatives are closely observing the developing situation in the flood-prone districts.

"Currently, all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage Project are remaining opened at Dalia Point in Nilphamari and the river was flowing below its DM by 17cm at Dalia Point and 10cm at Kawnia points respectively at noon today (Sunday)," Engineer Rahman said.

Divisional Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman said officials of the district and upazila administrations and BWDB and local, public representatives are closely monitoring the developing situation to take instant steps when and where necessary.

"The district administrations have adequate allocations of relief goods to strengthen relief operations and rescue process, if needed, during and post-flood periods in affected areas to face the flood situation," he added.

/KN/