RAJSHAHI,  – Amidst reduction of onrushing of water from upstream catchment areas, water level in a couple of the rivers remained stable in Ganges basin after rising on Wednesday, forecasting improvement of the flood situation within the next couple of days.

Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a static situation of water at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi 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 marked rise by three centimeter (CM) at Hardinge Bridge point despite stable at the three stations, while the water level in the Padma River further declined by three cm at Goalunda point.

However, the Ganges River was flowing 171 cm, 179 cm, 90 cm and 80 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively while the Padma River was flowing 70 cm above the danger mark at Gualundo point, he added.

Of 30 river points monitored in Ganges basin today, water levels went up at 15 points, while decreased at 12 stations and remained stable at three points at 9 am today.

The rivers were flowing below the danger level at 23 points, while above danger mark at six points this morning.

On the other hand, the water level of the Korotoa River and the Jamuna River under the Brahmaputra Basin which flow through Bogura and Sirajganj districts were seen a declining trend further this morning, creating a hope of improvement of 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 sharply declined by 32 cm at Chak Rahimpur, while went up by two cm at Bogura point.

The river was flowing 28 cm and 167 cm below the danger mark at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura stations respectively this morning.

The Jamuna River declined by 17 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 8 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 10 cm at Sirajganj points and the river was still flowing 14 cm and nine cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi and Sirajganj points respectively, while four cm below the danger mark at Kazipur in Sirajganj district.

He also said the water level in the Gur River decreased by seven cm at Shingra point in Natore district and the river was flowing 63 cm above the danger mark.

The Atrai River was flowing 63 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with a four cm fall afresh this morning.

Water level in the Mohananda River further declined by two cm at Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 86 cm below the danger mark while water level in the same river went up by two cm at Chapainawabganj point.

The Atrai River was flowing 22 cm below the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with 22 cm falling afresh while 363 cm below the danger mark with 52 cm fall at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in many of the districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels decreased at 10 points, went up at three points and remained stable at three points this morning.

However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 12 points, while above danger mark at four points this morning.

Meanwhile, 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 140 flood affected unions under 18 upazilas in the division. Besides, 308 flood shelters were opened for the marooned people in Sirajgonj, Bogura and Naogaon districts.

He added that 64 unions in Sirajganj, 24 in Bogura, 19 in Pabna, 14 in Naogaon and 19 in Natore districts are the worst affected ones.

He said they have recorded 2,139 patients suffering from various other flood-related diseases, including 87 diarrheal and 11 respiratory tract infections since July 1.