Rangpur: The Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are flowing above the danger mark, with water levels of other major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin also rising, affecting about 20,000 people from 5,000 families in the low-lying and char areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram districts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials have reported that the situation is exacerbated by heavy monsoon rains and water inflow from upstream Indian states. The Teesta was recorded flowing 15cm above the danger mark at Dalia point near the Teesta Barrage Project in Nilphamari at 3pm. Similarly, the Dudhkumar river crossed its danger mark at Pateshwari point in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram district, flowing by 6cm above the mark and inundating low-lying char areas.
BWDB’s Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle, Md Ahsan Habib, highlighted the rising trend of water levels in major rivers, which is expected to continue for the next two to three days due to ongoing monsoon rains and intense water flow from the Brahmaputra basin’s upper catchment areas. The BWDB is monitoring the situation closely to address any potential damages or breaches in flood control structures across Rangpur division.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB issued a bulletin indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisions and upstream Indian states over the past 24 hours. The bulletin forecasts moderate to moderately heavy rainfall in Bangladesh and upstream regions over the next 24 hours. Water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers may continue to rise and flow above the danger mark in the short term, though they are expected to stabilize in the following 12 hours and potentially recede over the next few days.
In addition, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system has shown increased water levels over the past 24 hours, with expectations of continued rise for the next three days. These levels may approach the warning level before stabilizing in the subsequent days.
Rainfall recordings from upstream Indian states included 99mm at Kalimpong, 47mm at Coochbehar in West Bengal, and 56mm at Gangtok point in Sikkim. Additionally, within Bangladesh, 83mm of rainfall was recorded at Pateshwari in Kurigram, with smaller amounts at Kawnia, Rangpur, and Dalia points.
Despite these challenges, the Teesta, Dharla, Brahmaputra, and Jamuna rivers are currently flowing below danger marks at various locations, although the situation remains dynamic with potential for changes in water levels over the coming days.