Further Rise in Major Rivers Lingers Flooding

The rising trend of major rivers in the Ganges Basin has been a continuation of the flood situation in some districts of the river basin on Wednesday.

At least four people died in 24 hours until Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 226 in the floods that occurred in the last week of June.

A daily bulletin of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed that three people died in Manikganj and one in Kishoreganj during the ongoing flood.

Of the total dead, 37 died in Tangail, 32 in Jamalpur, 23 in Manikganj and Kurigram, 17 in Lalmonirhat, 15 in Gaibandha and Sirajganj, 11 in Kishoreganj, nine in Dhaka, eight in Sunamganj, seven in Netrakona, six in Munshiganj and Gazipur, three in Shariatpur, Rajbari and Rangpur, two in Gopalganj, Naogaon, Sunamganj, Nilphamari, one in Faridpur and Bogura, according to DGHS.

"The Ganges River is on an upward trajectory, while the Padma River is in steady condition, which could stay in the next 24 hours," said Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, Executive Engineer of the Flood Forecasting and Alert Center (FFWC).

"The flood situation in the lowlands of Manikganj, Rajbari and Faridpur can stay steady in the next 24 hours," he said.

"According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's numerical model, there is a risk of moderate to very strong rainfall in the south-west and south-central coastal regions of the country in the next 24 hours. The rivers in this area could grow rapidly during this period.

Yesterday, the increase in water rates in several of the rivers in the Ganges basin persisted for the third consecutive day owing to a flood of floodwaters from upstream hilly catchment areas triggered by heavy downpour.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has also seen an growing pattern in most rivers such as Mohananda in Chapainawabganj and Ganges in Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria and Padma in Goalunda and other downstream rivers this morning.

Water level in the Ganges River rose by 14 cm at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 7 cm at Rajshahi, 4 cm at Hardinge Bridge and 11 cm at Talbaria points in the last 24 hours at 9 a.m. yesterday.

The Ganges River flowed at 178 cm, 194 cm, 121 cm and 96 cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria, respectively, although the Padma River water level was below the danger point.

The Ganges River flowed at 178 cm, 194 cm, 121 cm and 96 cm below the danger levels at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria, respectively, while the water level in the Padma River increased by 4 cm at the point of Goalundo and the river flowed 17 cm above the danger mark.

The water level of the Korotoa River decreased by 23 cm and 22 cm at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura, respectively, and the river flowed at 219 cm and 304 cm below the danger level at both points this morning.

On the other hand, the local BWDB office has seen a further upward trend in water at two points of the Jamuna River.

The water level increased by 4 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 2 cm at Sirajganj, while it stayed constant at Sariakandi in Bogura.

Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said that the Jamuna was flowing 5 cm above the danger level at Sariakandi point, while the river was still flowing at 4 cm and 2 cm below the danger level at Kazipur and Sirajganj points.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under the Rajshahi division regularly, water levels went up at seven points, while it declined at seven points and remained stable at two points this morning.

The rivers, however, flowed at 14 points below the danger limit, while at two points above the danger mark throughout the era.

The Department of Health has taken all practicable steps to avoid the spread of waterborne diseases among impacted citizens in the middle of the floodwater recession.