Teesta River May Cross Danger Mark in Next 24 Hours

Following a continued significant rise in water levels due to monsoon rainfall and onrushing water from upstream, the Teesta may surpass its danger mark (DM) in the upcoming 24 hours at Dalia point in Nilphamari and Kawnia point in Rangpur.

Officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) warned that the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers' water levels may occasionally rise quickly since the Brahmaputra basin may see severe rainfall upstream in the ensuing 24 to 48 hours.

The Flood Forecasting & Warning Center (FFWC) of the BWDB issued a notice today stating that "The Teesta may cross its DM at Dalia and Kawnia points in the next 24 hours." 

At Dalia point and Kawnia point, the Teesta was just 18 cm and 15 cm below its DM, respectively, at 9 am on Sunday.

In the Brahmaputra basin, the sites with the most recent 24-hour rainfall totals as of this morning at 9 a.m. were Pateshwari (196mm), Kurigram (264mm), Dalia (54mm), Kawnia (95mm), Chilmari (64mm), Gaibandha (57mm), and Thakurgaon (62mm).

The report said that the upstream northwestern Indian states of Dhubri, Cherrapunji, Jalpaiguri, Passighat, and Siliguri received high rainfalls during the period of 146mm, 195mm, 116mm, 103mm, and 74mm respectively.

Today at 9 a.m., the Dudhkumar was flowing at Pateshwari 90 cm below DM, the Dharla was flowing at Kurigram 78 cm below DM, and the Brahmaputra was flowing at Noonkhawa 70 cm below DM, Hatia 51 cm below DM, and Chilmari 61 cm below DM.

Only 45 cm of the Jamuna's flow was below the DM at Fulchhari, 77 cm at Shaghata, 43 at Bahadurabad, 49 at Sariakandi, 64 at Kazipur, and 44 at Sirajganj sites as of this morning at 9 a.m.

Recent monsoon rains and an influx of water from the upstream, according to local BWDB sources, have created a flood situation in low-lying areas of the Teesta's Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Rangpur districts.

According to Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman, the Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone at BWDB, all eight districts in the Rangpur division—which falls under BWDB's Rangpur zone—have been well prepared to handle any crisis during seasonal floods.

In addition to performing repairs on flood control systems, buildings, and embankments at susceptible areas, he added, "We are closely monitoring the worsening flood situation."

The local monitoring committees, public representatives, BWDB officials, Deputy Commissioners, and Upazila Nirbahi Officers are all actively watching the deteriorating situation in the flood-prone regions.

"Currently, all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage Project are remaining opened at Dalia point in Nilphamari and the river was flowing below its DM by 17cm at Dalia point and 10cm at Kawnia points respectively at 12 noon today," Engineer Rahman said.

Divisional Commissioner Md. Habibur Rahman said officials of the district and upazila administrations and BWDB and local, public representatives are closely monitoring the developing situation to take instant steps when and where necessary.

"The district administrations have adequate allocations of relief goods to strengthen relief operations and rescue process, if needed, during and post flood periods in affected areas to face the flood situation," he added.

Source: BSS