Flood situation in Ganges basin improves significantly

Publish: 5:07 PM, August 29, 2020 | Update: 5:07 PM, August 29, 2020

RAJSHAHI, – Overall flood situation in Ganges basin has improved significantly today as water level in most of its rivers decreased this morning due to dwindling of onrushing flood water from upstream hilly catchment areas.

The marooned people are expected to get back their normal life within a shortest possible time as flood water is receding in different areas, particularly Sirajgonj, Bogura, Natore, Naogaon and Pabna districts.

Of the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels receded at 27 points, while increased at two points and remained steady at one point, according to data of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 28 points, while above the danger levels at two points.

“We recorded falling trends in most rivers, including Modananda, Ganges, Padma and the downstream rivers and tributaries of the Ganges basin today,” Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), told BSS this morning.

He said water level of the Ganges River declined by five centimeter (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, four cm at Rajshahi and at Hardinge Bridge points and 14 cm at Talbaria point afresh at 9 am today.
Mukhlesur said the Ganges River was flowing 179 cm, 193 cm, 125 cm and 92 cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively.

Water level of the Padma River declined by 16 cm further at Goalundo point, and the river was flowing 14 cm below the danger level at the point this morning, he added.

Besides, a falling trend of water levels at the three points of the Jamuna River has been continuing for the last couple of days. The water level receded by 21 cm at Sariakandi point in Bogura, 17 cm at Kazipur point in Sirajganj and 16 cm at Sirajgonj point this morning.

FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the Jamuna River was flowing 86 cm, 69 cm and 74 cm below the danger level at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels declined at all the points and the rivers were flowing below the danger level at all the 16 points this morning.

Engineer Bhuiyan said all the major rivers of the country are in a falling trend, which may continue for the next 72 hours. Besides, all the major rivers of the country are flowing below the danger levels.

Meanwhile, the local administrations have been distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas continuously since the flood began.

A number of 9.01 lakh people from around 2.16 lakh worst-affected families have, so far, been brought under the relief distribution programme to overcome their livelihood related hardships caused by the flood in different districts under Rajshahi division.

As part of instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the disastrous situation, the government has already allocated 1,512 tonnes of rice, Taka 37.39 lakh in cash, 16,124 packets of dry-food, Taka 21 lakh for baby food and Taka 40 lakh for animal feed for distribution in the division.
Moinul Islam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division, said there are 1,680.5 tonnes of rice, Taka 70.84 lakh, 3,160 packets of dry food, Taka one lakh for baby food and Taka three lakh for animal feed remained in stock for distribution.

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

Some 4,193 patients were recorded to be suffering from various water-related diseases and 20 deaths occurred mainly caused by drowning and snakebite since July 1, sources added.