Heavy Rain May Worsen Flooding

Moderate to heavy rainfall in the southwest and south-central coastal regions can exacerbate the ongoing flood situation in the country.

"According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's numerical model, there is a risk of moderate to extreme rainfall in the south-west and south-central coastal regions. Rivers may rise rapidly during this period, "said the new Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) flood status bulletin on Friday.

“The well-marked low over Bihar-Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining area now lie over central Madhya Pradesh of India and adjoining areas. The axis of monsoon runs through Rajasthan, the centre of the well-marked low, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across the central part of Bangladesh,” forecasted Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

It also forecasted that light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions; at many places over Dhaka, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to heavy rainfall at places over the country. Flooding across Bangladesh could worsen slightly due to heavy rain across North Bengal and NE India.

Lowlands in Southern Bangladesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Central India and (North+Coastal) Myanmar could also have a temporary flood risk.

The flood situation in the low-lying districts of Manikganj, Rajbari and Faridpur rising stay stable for the next 24 hours, said FFWC.

In the meantime, the displaced citizens have began to return home after more changes in the flood situation in several areas of the day.

In the aftermath of the recovery of the flood crisis, marooned residents moved home, but they had to survive under the open skies while their homes were swept away by floodwaters. We still suffer tremendous setbacks, because their croplands have already been swept dry.

They are now seeking assistance in reconstructing their homes and planting crops in the land. Water levels in many of the rivers in the Ganges Basin have been swelling continuously for the last few days due to a flood of floodwaters from upstream hilly catchment areas caused by heavy downpours.

The local office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has also seen an increasing pattern in most of the rivers such as the Ganges in Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria and Padma in Goalunda and most of its downstream rivers and tributaries this morning. The water level in the Ganges River went up by 5 centimeters (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 2cm at Rajshahi, and 4cm each at Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points in the past 24 hours ending at 9 am yesterday.

Nevertheless, the Ganges River flowed at 169 cm, 185 cm, 106 cm and 78 cm below the danger rates at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria, respectively, while the water level in the Padma River increased by 3 cm at the point of Goalundo and the river flowed at 29 cm above the danger stage yesterday morning.

At the other hand, the local BWDB office reported a more downward trend yesterday at all three points of the Jamuna River. The water level decreased by 3 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 4 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 1 cm at Sirajganj.