RANGPUR, – The flood situation deteriorated in eight northern districts marooning some three lakh people following continuous onrush of water from the upstream inundating fresh areas during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am in the Brahmaputra basin.

Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said major rivers were flowing above danger marks (DM) at 11 points of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Sirajganj districts at 9 am today.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said rescue operation and shifting of marooned people to safer places and distribution of relief have begun as floodwaters inundated fresh low-lying and riverine char areas during the period.

According to BWDB officials, the Brahmaputra was flowing 54cm above the DM at Noonkhawa and 51cm at Chilmari and Dharla by 88cm at Kurigram points in Kurigram and Ghagot by 31cm above the DM at Gaibandha point at 9 am today.

The Jamuna was flowing 62cm above the DM at Fulchhari in Gaibandha, 57cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 42cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 28cm at Kazipur and 6cm at Sirajganj points in Sirajganj districts at 9 am.

Following further rises in its water levels during the period, the Teesta was flowing above the DM by 44cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and 8cm above the DM at Kawnia point in Rangpur at 9 am today.

Talking to BSS, Executive Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) division of BWDB Rabiul Islam said the Teesta was flowing 55cm above the DM at Dalia point at 12 midnight last night.

“However, the Teesta was flowing above the DM by 52cm at 6 am and 44cm at 9 am at Dalia point today,” he said, adding that the falling trend in water level of the river might continue during the next 24 hours.

Talking to BSS today, Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said water levels of the Teesta and Dharla might start receding in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts the next 24 hours.

He visited the TBP, its flood bypass structure and adjoining areas in Nilphamari and adjoining Lalmonirhat to monitor the flood situation and safety of flood control structures from 1am to 5am today.

“I am visiting flood-hit areas alongside the rivers Dharla and Brahmaputra in Kurigram today,” Ghosh said, adding that all flood control embankments and structures are remaining safe under Rangpur zone of BWDB in Rangpur division.

Meanwhile, the government has launched relief operations as the second phase of deluge exposed thousands of people to sufferings following inundation of vast low-lying areas in the affected districts in the Brahmaputra basin.

Acting District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) for Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said 170 tonnes of rice, Taka four lakh, 2,000 packets of dry foods, Taka two lakh each for baby foods and animal fodders have been allocated for distribution in the district.

“Around 91,116 lakh people of 22,779 families of 448 villages in 56 unions under all nine upazilas in the district have been affected by the second phase of the deluge this season,” he said.

DRRO for Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said the district administration has allocated 100 tonnes of rice, Taka four lakh 1,500 packets of dry foods and Taka two lakh for animal fodders for distribution among flood-hit people of three upazilas in the district.

“Around 55,000 people of some 18,000 families have become marooned in the low-lying areas Gangachara, Kawnia and Pirgachha upazilas of the district during the current phase of the deluge in the district,” he added.