RANGPUR,– The government has intensified massive relief activities for the flood-hit people to mitigate their sufferings in flood-affected areas of eight northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin.

Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the government continues allocating more rice and money frequently for conducting relief activities in flood-hit areas of Rangpur division.

“The district administrations have intensified distribution of relief materials among the flood-hit people of Rangpur division,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said water levels of major rivers, except Teesta, marked further fall as onrush of hilly water from the upper catchment reduced in the basin during the last 24 hours till 9 am today.

However, the flood situation may deteriorate in the next 48 to 72 hours despite an improving trend currently continuing in the basin.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of BWDB sources, the recorded rainfalls were 390mm at Cherrapunji, 143mm at Shillong and 74mm at Pasighat points in northwestern Indian states in the upstream during the last 24 hours till 9 am today.

The major rivers were flowing above the danger mark (DM) at 10 points in five districts in the Brahmaputra basin at 9 am today.

Following further fall in water levels during the last 24 hours, the Brahmaputra was flowing above the DM by 26cm at Noonkhawa and 42cm at Chilmari at 9 am.

The Dharla was flowing above the DM by 35cm at Kurigram and Ghagot by 43cm at Gaibandha at 9 am.

The Jamuna was flowing above the DM by 72cm at Fulchhari, 78cm at Bahadurabad, 88cm at Sariakandi, 74cm at Kazipur and 69cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.

However, the Teesta marked a sharp rise by 58cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari during the last 24 hours and was flowing 20cm above the DM there at 9 am today.

Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion have been reported from vulnerable points of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts with recession of floodwaters at slower rates.

“The flood control structures are remaining safe and riverbank protection works continuing at several vulnerable points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts of the zone,” Ghosh told BSS.

Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur agriculture region Muhammad Ali said floodwaters submerged standing crops on 11,939 hectares of land in 19 affected upazilas of all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region.

Talking to BSS, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said around 60,000 people of 15,000 families in three upazilas have been affected by the deluge in the district.

“Distribution of 330 tonnes rice and Taka 18.50 lakh as general relief, 3,000 packets of dry foods and Taka two lakh for animal fodders continues among flood-hit people of the district,” he said.

Acting DRRO of Lalmonirhat Shammi Kaiser said the flood has affected 1.77 lakh people of 39,584 families in 22 unions under five upazilas of the district.

“We are distributing 299 tonnes of rice and Taka seven lakh as general relief, Taka two lakh each for baby foods and animal fodders and 3,000 packets of dry foods among flood-hit people of the district,” she added.

Nilphamari DRRO SA Hayat said the deluge has affected 26,000 people of 6,270 families of Dimla upazila in the district where distribution of 100 tonnes of rice, Taka one lakh and 1,000 packets of dry foods continues.

Acting DRRO of Kurigram Abdul Hye Sarker said the flood has affected 2.27 lakh people of 56,860 families in 475 villages in 56 unions of all nine upazilas in the district.

“Distribution of 190 tonnes of rice and Taka nine lakh, 4,000 packets of dry foods, Taka two lakh each for baby foods and animal fodders continues among flood-affected people of the district,” Sarker added.

Gaibandha DRRO Moazzem Hossain said the flood has affected 1.35-lakh people of 33,500 families in 29 unions of five upazilas in the district.

“We are distributing 330 tonnes of rice, Taka eight lakh, 3,650 packets of dry foods, Taka two lakh each for baby foods and animal fodders among flood-affected people in the district,” Hossain added.