Red Alert Issued as Teesta Flows 70cm above Danger Level

The Water Development Board (WDB) has issued a red alert in the Teesta Basin after the river swelled above danger level due to the onrush of water from upstream, reports UNB.

Teesta crossed 70 cm above danger level since Wednesday afternoon due to the onrush of hill water and heavy rainfall upstream in India. The authorities in Bangladesh have ordered an evacuation of the people living in villages along the river’s banks.

Extreme panic is prevailing among the residents of Teesta bank due to the sudden rise of Teesta water. In addition, flood fuses on the north side of the Teesta Barrage are reported to be under threat of getting damaged.

Due to the rise in Teesta, 15 villages of Purba Chhatnai, Tapa Kharibari, Khagakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach Chapani and Gayabari Union of Dimla upazila of Nilphamari and six villages of sandbar of Jaldhaka upazila have been flooded.

The residents of those areas have evacuated to safer places, said the people's representatives of those unions. Hundreds of hectares of cropland have been inundated.

Abdul Latif Khan, Purbachhatnai UP chairman of Dimla Upazila in Nilphamari, said the right bank of the Teesta at Zero Point in the area and the Groen dam is under threat of getting damaged. Water is flowing especially over the Groen dam. If the Groen collapses, hundreds of houses in the area, including the dam on the right bank of the Teesta, will be washed away by the Teesta River.

Tepakharibari UP chairman Moinul Haque said the Teesta Bazar, Telirbazar, Dolapara and Charkharibari areas have already been submerged. All croplands in the sandbars are under water.

In Lalmonirhat, the Barakhata to Hatibandha bypass road has collapsed at various places due to the sudden rise in the water level of the Teesta river. As a result, thousands of families in this union have been marooned. Thousands of acres of cropland on the banks of Teesta in five Upazilas of Lalmonirhat district have been submerged in water.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Abu Jafar said he has instructed the union chairmen and UNOs to look over the flood situation in these areas.

The Teesta river was flowing 52.70 cm above the danger level at Dalia point on Tuesday night while it was flowing 60 cm above the danger level around 10 am on Wednesday. This is due to the onrush of hill water and heavy rainfall, according to Board officials.

The low-lying areas of Dahgram in Patgram upazila, Gaddimari, Singamari, Sinduna, Patikapara, Dauabari in Hatibandha upazila and Bhotmari, Soilmari, Nohli, Char Boirati in Kaliganj upazilas of Lalmonirhat district have been flooded, affecting some 10,000 families.

Besides, the residents along the river have been asked to take shelter in safer places issuing red alert.