Water level in Ganges basin continues receding

Flood situation in the region has started improving slightly as a result of water recession in many of the rivers in the Ganges basin for the second consecutive day today after a rising trend for the previous couple of days.

Of the total 30 river points, being monitored in Ganges basin regularly, water levels decreased at 20 stations, while increased at 10 stations at 9 am on Friday, creating a hope of reducing the plight of the flood-affected people in the char (shoal) and other low-lying areas.

The rivers were flowing below the danger level at 24 points, while above danger mark at six points this morning.

Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a falling trend of water levels at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria in the past 24 hours ending 9 am today, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.

Water levels of the Ganges River further decreased by one centimeter (CM) each at Pankha in Chapainawabganj and Hardinge Bridge points, four cm at Rajshahi and 14 cm at Talbaria points while the water level in the Padma River decreased by 11 cm at Goalunda point.

The Ganges River was flowing 168 cm, 164 cm, 84 cm and 62 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively while the Padma River was flowing 91 cm above the danger mark at Gualundo point, he added.

Besides, the water level of the Korotoa River and the Jamuna River under the Brahmaputra Basin which flow in Bogura and Sirajganj districts have seen a further receding trend this morning, signaling more improvement in the flood situation in the two districts within the next couple of days.

Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in the Korotoa River decreased by seven cm at Bogura point while decreased by nine cm at Chak Rahimpur. The river was flowing 155 cm and 43 cm below the danger mark at the two stations respectively this morning.

The Jamuna River further receded by 12 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 15 cm at Kajipur in Sirajganj and 9 cm at Sirajganj point and the river was still flowing 55 cm, 33 cm and 38 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.

He also said the water level in the Gur River decreased by four cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 80 cm above the danger mark.

The Atrai River was flowing 89 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with an eight cm fall afresh this morning.

Water level in the Mohananda River further receded by four cm at Rohanpur point in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 90 cm below the danger mark.

The Atrai River was flowing seven cm below the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with an 11 cm fall afresh while 239 cm below the danger mark with 77 cm rise at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.

Of the 15 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in almost all eight districts under Rajshahi division, water levels decreased at 14 points and increased at one point.

Meanwhile, the civil administration has, so far, recorded around seven lakh flood-affected people besides inundation of standing crops on 27,773 hectares of land in Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Sirajgonj and Bogura districts.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, distributed relief items among 2,060 flood affected people at Katabari and Kalma areas in Singra Upazila of Natore Wednesday afternoon.

Moinul Islam, Additional Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi, said the district and upazila administrations with the 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.

The Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the marooned people in the flood-affected areas amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Divisional Director of Health Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya told BSS that 658 medical teams are working in 101 flood affected unions under 18 upazilas in the division. Besides, 18 flood shelters were opened in Bogura district.

He added that 50 unions in Sirajganj, 19 in Pabna, 17 in Bogura, 10 in Naogaon and five in Natore districts are the worst affected ones.

He said they have recorded 1,628 patients suffering from various other flood-related diseases, including 68 diarrheal and nine respiratory tract infections since July 1.