RAJSHAHI, – Normalcy has started returning to the affected areas of the Ganges basin as water level in many of its rivers and tributaries recorded a further fall because of dwindling of onrushing floodwater from the upstream hilly catchment areas for the last couple of days .
The flood, however, left a trail of destruction in the respective affected areas, particularly Naogaon, Natore, Bogura and Sirajgonj districts, which will take more time to get back a complete normal situation, officials said.
Of the 30 river points, monitored in the Ganges basin today, water levels receded at 25 points, while increased at five points, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at 29 points, while above the danger level at another point today like the previous day.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) recorded a falling trend at all the eight points of the Ganges and the Padma Rivers today, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB, told BSS.
Water level in the Ganges River further receded by six centimeter (cm), 11 cm, 14 cm and 9 cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, at Rajshahi, at Hardinge Bridge and at Talbaria points afresh respectively.
Water level in the Korotoa River further increased by 21 cm at Bogura point and receded by 12 cm at Chak Rahimpur point afresh. The Korotoa River was still flowing 54 cm above the danger level at Chak Rahimpur point this morning.
FFWC Executive Engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said a falling trend has been recorded at all the six points of the Jamuna River for the last couple of days.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels declined at 15 points, while increased at another point.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level in 15 points, while above the danger mark at another point this morning.
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, TK 45.35 lakh in cash, 22,803 packets of dry-food, TK 27 lakh for baby food and TK 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, TK 29.71 lakh, 2,177 packets of dry food, TK two lakh for baby food and TK 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 6,495 patients reportedly have suffered from various water-related diseases and 25 people died in flood related incidents, particularly drowning and snakebite since July 1, sources said.
