RAJSHAHI, – Rising of water level in many of the major rivers in Ganges basin has been continuing again for the second consecutive day today because of onrushing of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas caused by heavy downpour.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a rising trend at most of the rivers like Mohananda in Chapainawabganj and Ganges at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge, Talbaria and Goalunda and other downstreaming rivers this morning.
Water level in the Ganges River went up by five centimeter (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, nine cm at Rajshahi, two cm at Hardinge Bridge and six cm at Talbaria points in the past 24 hours ending at 9 am today, superintending engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Mukhlesur Rahman told BSS.
The Ganges River was flowing 192 cm, 201 cm, 125 cm and 107 cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively, while water level in the Padma River went up by five cm at Goalundo point and the river was flowing 13 cm above the danger level, Engineer Mukhlesur Rahman added.
A total of 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels receded at 14 points, while went up at 14 points and remained stable at two points.
Apart from this, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points, while above the danger level at one point.
Water level of the Korotoa River declined by 17 cm and nine cm afresh at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura points respectively and the river was flowing 196 cm and 282 cm below the danger level at the two points respectively this morning.
On the other hand, the local BWDB office has recorded a further rising trend of water at all the three points of the Jamuna River. The water level increased by three cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, four cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and seven cm at Sirajganj points.
The Jamuna River was flowing five cm above the danger level at Sariakandi point, while the river was still flowing eight cm below the danger level each at Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively.
The Gur River was flowing three cm above the danger level at Singra in Natore with a four cm fall afresh while the Atrai River was flowing six cm above the danger level at Baghabari in Sirajgonj point with four cm rise.
Besides, the Atrai River was flowing 79 cm below the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with a fall of 12 cm afresh while 405 cm below the danger mark with a 24 cm fall at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels went up at nine points, while declined at seven points this morning.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 13 points, while above the danger mark at three points during the period.
Meanwhile, Additional Divisional Commissioner Moinul Islam said the district and upazila administrations with the local public representatives have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously for the last couple of weeks.
The Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected people amid recession of the floodwater.
Some 3,294 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 17 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and snakebite since July 1, the sources also said.
