Moderate flooding predicted in mid-July

Flood worsens in some upazilas of Sylhet div

Bangladesh is likely to experience medium-scale floods in the middle of July, as the waters of the major rivers—Padma, Jamuna and the Ganges—are increasing. Heavy rain, flash floods and excessive water flow from the upstream rivers have worsened the flood situation in several upazilas of the Sylhet division including the Sunamganj district. Waters of four rivers—Surma, Jhalukhali, Someswari, Jadukata and Old Surma—are flowing above the danger level at five points.

However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) authorities said all the 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage had been kept open to release flood waters. The onrush of water from the hilly upstream areas and incessant rainfall have flooded hundreds of villages in Doarbazar, Jamalganj, Tahirpur and Bishwambharpur upazilas, leaving several hundred people marooned.

The local administration has already allocated 30 tonnes of rice and dry food for the flood-affected people.

According to the WDB office in Sunamganj, the Surma has been flowing 35 centimetres above the danger line.

“All the major rivers of the country are showing a rising

trend except the Brahmaputra and Surma.

The Ganges-Padma rivers may continue rising in the next 48 hours, while the Jamuna may continue rising in the next 24 hours,” Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of the WDB in-charge of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), told this correspondent yesterday. He said the pattern of weather changed frequently, making it difficult to predict the flood situation.

“We always have to consider the risk of floods. The flood situation is likely to worsen in low-lying areas in the first week of July, affecting people living next to the Jamuna river,” Bhuiyan said in reply to a query.

He also said that there were possibilities of normal flooding in the end of July. “The Brahmaputra may remain steady in the next 24 hours. The Kushiyara and Manu rivers may continue rising in the next 24 hours. A flood situation of a short duration may prevail in some low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts in the next 24 hours,” he added.

When asked about rain in the upstream, he said, “There are little possibilities of heavy rain fall in the upstream in the next 4-5 days. So, the situation in areas that have been flooded in Sunamganj and other adjacent areas of the Sylhet division will begin improving from Monday.”

He also rejected the possibilities of any severe floods in the near future. “But we have to be prepared to face any kind of floods. The WDB always working to protect all its structures including flood protection embankments, where flood-affected people take shelter,” Bhuiyan said in reply to a query.

Waters are flowing above the danger level in all rivers, deputy commissioner (DC) of Sunamganj district Mohammad Abdul Ahad told this correspondent.

“All the 11 upzilas of the district have already been affected by floods. We have already allocated 30 tonnes of rice and dry food for the flood victims. More relief materials will be allocated if needed,” he said.

The automatic operating system of sluice gates at the Teesta Barrage has remained inoperative for a long time due to the alleged negligence of the WDB’s mechanical department, sources said. “All the 44 gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open to release flood waters flowing from the upstream. We are handling these gates manually as the automatic operating system is not working,” Rabiul Islam, WDB executive engineer at Dalia, told this correspondent over cell phone.

He said they were monitoring the river’s water level, which was now flowing below danger level. The Indian Gajoldoba Barrage authorities have informed their Bangladesh counterparts that they had kept open all the gates of the barrage due to the pressure of water flowing down from Sikkim.

 

 

Moderate flooding predicted in mid-July

Flood worsens in some upazilas of Sylhet div

Bangladesh is likely to experience medium-scale floods in the middle of July, as the waters of the major riversPadma, Jamuna and the Gangesare increasing. Heavy rain, flash floods and excessive water flow from the upstream rivers have worsened the flood situation in several upazilas of the Sylhet division including the Sunamganj district. Waters of four riversSurma, Jhalukhali, Someswari, Jadukata and Old Surmaare flowing above the danger level at five points. However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) authorities said all the 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage had been kept open to release flood waters. The onrush of water from the hilly upstream areas and incessant rainfall have flooded hundreds of villages in Doarbazar, Jamalganj, Tahirpur and Bishwambharpur upazilas, leaving several hundred people marooned. The local administration has already allocated 30 tonnes of rice and dry food for the flood-affected people. According to the WDB office in Sunamganj, the Surma has been flowing 35 centimetres above the danger line. All the major rivers of the country are showing a rising trend except the Brahmaputra and Surma. The Ganges-Padma rivers may continue rising in the next 48 hours, while the Jamuna may continue rising in the next 24 hours, Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of the WDB in-charge of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), told this correspondent yesterday. He said the pattern of weather changed frequently, making it difficult to predict the flood situation. We always have to consider the risk of floods. The flood situation is likely to worsen in low-lying areas in the first week of July, affecting people living next to the Jamuna river, Bhuiyan said in reply to a query. He also said that there were possibilities of normal flooding in the end of July. The Brahmaputra may remain steady in the next 24 hours. The Kushiyara and Manu rivers may continue rising in the next 24 hours. A flood situation of a short duration may prevail in some low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts in the next 24 hours, he added. When asked about rain in the upstream, he said, There are little possibilities of heavy rain fall in the upstream in the next 4-5 days. So, the situation in areas that have been flooded in Sunamganj and other adjacent areas of the Sylhet division will begin improving from Monday. He also rejected the possibilities of any severe floods in the near future. But we have to be prepared to face any kind of floods. The WDB always working to protect all its structures including flood protection embankments, where flood-affected people take shelter, Bhuiyan said in reply to a query. Waters are flowing above the danger level in all rivers, deputy commissioner (DC) of Sunamganj district Mohammad Abdul Ahad told this correspondent. All the 11 upzilas of the district have already been affected by floods. We have already allocated 30 tonnes of rice and dry food for the flood victims. More relief materials will be allocated if needed, he said. The automatic operating system of sluice gates at the Teesta Barrage has remained inoperative for a long time due to the alleged negligence of the WDBs mechanical department, sources said. All the 44 gates of Teesta Barrage have been kept open to release flood waters flowing from the upstream. We are handling these gates manually as the automatic operating system is not working, Rabiul Islam, WDB executive engineer at Dalia, told this correspondent over cell phone. He said they were monitoring the rivers water level, which was now flowing below danger level. The Indian Gajoldoba Barrage authorities have informed their Bangladesh counterparts that they had kept open all the gates of the barrage due to the pressure of water flowing down from Sikkim.