Water levels in rivers across Bangladesh’s north and northwest are likely to rise despite the receding of water in the northeastern Sylhet region, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre says.
The water levels of 10 rivers were exceeding the danger level at 21 points at 9am on Saturday. Among the flood forecasting centre’s 110 stations, 42 points saw a decreasing trend in the water level, 63 a rising trend and five unchanged, the centre said in its bulletin on Saturday.
Over the next 24 hours, the Teesta, the Dharla, the Dudhkumar and the Ghagot rivers in the country’s northern region may swell rapidly at certain times.
As a result, the Teesta River may flow above the danger level for a short time at some points and the flood situation in some low-lying areas of the Kurigram and Gaibandha districts along the Dharla, the Dudhkumar and the Ghagot rivers may deteriorate.
Over the next 48 hours, the Jamuneswari, the Karatoa, the Bangali, the Upper Karatoya, the Punarbhaba, the Tangon, the Ichamati-Jamuna, the Atrai, the Mohananda and the Little-Jamuna rivers in the country’s north and northwestern regions may see a rapid rise in the water level at certain times, the bulletin read.
However, the water levels of the main rivers in the country’s northeastern region are receding and may continue to do so for the next 24 hours, the centre said.
The flood situation in the low-lying parts of the region may slightly improve during this period.
The flood forecasting centre’s bulletin said the water of the Brahmaputra River is holding steady while the Jamuna is on the rise. In the next 24 hours, the Brahmaputra level may fall slowly while the Jamuna may remain stable.
The water of the Ganges-Padma rivers is also on the rise, a trend which may continue in the next 72 hours.
In the next 24 hours, the flood situation along the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogura, Tangail and Sirajganj may remain steady.
However, the Padma River may flow above its warning level in the next 48 hours at the Goalundo Point.
Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer of the flood forecasting centre, said: “The overall situation may remain stable. It is likely to improve around Jul 7 but return to normal after Jul 11.”
Heavy rain and a surge of runoff triggered floods in the Sylhet region at the start of June. Though the situation improved several days later, many areas in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and neighbouring districts were flooded after two days of torrential rain before Eid-ul-Azha on Jun 17. Mountain runoff caused fresh flooding in these three districts at the start of July.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the northern region and adjoining upstream parts of the country in the next 24 hours, the flood forecasting centre said, citing meteorological organisations.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by a temporary gusty wind, is likely to occur at many places over the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over the Dhaka and Khulna divisions, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said in its 24-hour weather forecast since Saturday morning.
In addition, moderately heavy to heavy falls are likely at places over the Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.
Patuakhali’s Khepupara saw the most rainfall in the 24 hours to 6am on Saturday with 292 mm. Other parts of the country have seen rain too, with 132 mm in Rangpur, 120 mm in Cox’s Bazar, 94 mm in Nilphamari’s Dimla, 86 mm in Panchagarh’s Tetulia, and 82 mm in Noakhali’s Hatiya.
Generally, 1-10 mm of rain a day is called light rain, 11-22 mm is moderate, 23-44 mm is moderately heavy, 44-88 mm is heavy, and over 88 mm is very heavy.