RAJSHAHI, – The overall flood situation in the Ganges basin remained steady for the last second consecutive day today as water level in its rivers and tributaries are fluctuating in last 24-hour ending this morning after continuous rising for few days due to onrush of floodwater from upstream.
Of the 30 river points, monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels increased at 14 points, while receded at 16 points, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
However, the rivers were still flowing below the danger level at 27 points, while above the danger level at three other points today.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded a falling trend at all the four points except one of the Ganges Rivers, while rising trend at all the four points in the Padma Rivers today, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.
Water level in the Ganges River receded by 10 centimeter (cm), nine cm and three cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, at Rajshahi and at Hardinge Bridge points afresh respectively while went up by one cm at Talbaria point.
Water level in the Korotoa River increased by four 10 cm afresh at Bogura point, while receded by three cm at Chak Rahimpur point afresh. The Korotoa River was still flowing 130 cm above the danger level this morning.
FFWC Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a rising trend has been recorded at four points, while falling at two other points of the Jamuna River for the last couple of days.
The Jamuna River went up by one cm at Sariakandi in Bogura and four cm each at Kazipur in Sirajganj and at Sirajganj points. The river was still flowing 34 cm, 21 cm and 12 cm above the danger level at all the three points respectively this morning.
The Gur River receded by 11 cm in its Shingra point in Natore afresh but still flowing 38 cm above the danger mark. The Atrai River went up by 10 cm at Baghabari in Sirajganj flowing 13 cm above the danger level.
The Mahananda River also increased by 15 cm and three cm at Rohanpur and at Chapainawabganj points respectively.
The Little Jamuna River declined by 15 cm at Naogaon point flowing one cm below the danger level.
However, the Atrai River declined by 115 cm at Mohadevpur in Naogaon afresh and by 23 cm at Atrai point this morning.
The Atrai River was still flowing 32 cm above the danger level at Atrai point.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels increased at eight points, while declined at eight other points.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level in eight points, while above the danger mark at another eight points this morning like the previous day.
Engineer Bhuiyan said the Brahmaputra River is in falling trend and the Jamuna River is in steady state. Both the rivers Brahmaputra-Jamuna may fall in the next 24 hours. Besides, the Ganges River is in steady state and the Padma River is in rising trend. This situation may continue in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the local administration has been continuously distributing relief materials in the worst-affected areas since the flood began.
More than 9.25 lakh people of around 2.23 lakh flood-affected families in different districts of the division have, so far, received relief materials to overcome their livelihood related hardships caused by the natural disaster.
The government, as part of its instant humanitarian assistance to cope with the catastrophic situation, has allocated 1,841.1 tonnes of rice, Taka 45.35 lakh in cash, 22,803 packets of dry-food, Taka 27 lakh for baby food and Taka 36 lakh for animal feed.
Moinul Islam, additional commissioner of Rajshahi division, said distribution of the allocated relief materials among the affected families in the division is on final stage.
Apart from this, 2,098.6 tonnes of rice, Taka 29.71 lakh, 2,177 packets of dry food, Taka two lakh for baby food and Taka five lakh for animal feed remain in stock for distribution, he said.
Simultaneously, the Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the flood affected people amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Some 6,282 patients were reported to have suffered from various water-related diseases and 25 people died in flood related incidents, particularly drowning and snakebite since July 1, sources said.
