Teesta crosses danger mark at Dalia, Kawnia points

The Teesta crossed the danger mark (DM) at Dalia and Kawnia points on Monday despite lessening of monsoon rains in upstream Indian northwestern states during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on Monday.

Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said there is no possibility of further deterioration of the situation as intensity of monsoon rains notably lessened in the Brahmaputra basin and adjoining upstream northwestern Indian states during the period.

"The Teesta was flowing above danger mark by 14cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and 6cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur respectively at 9 am today," Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman told BSS.

Some low-lying and char areas of several upazilas in Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts went under flood water as the Teesta river was flowing above DM today.

He said water levels of major rivers marked rises at a slower rate following reduction in monsoon rains upstream during the last 24 hours with no possibility of heavy rains in the basin during the next 24 hours.

Water levels of major rivers might remain mostly stable in the upper Brahmaputra basin while may continue to rise moderately in the lower Brahmaputra basin during the next 24 hours.

"We are closely monitoring the situation round the clock and ready to take immediate steps to repair any damages or breached flood control structures on an emergency basis anywhere in Rangpur division under BWDB's Rangpur Zone," Rahman said.

"In the next 24 hours, water levels of the Teesta may fall to flow below DM both at Dalia and Nilphamari points," a bulletin issued by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB said today.

During the last 24 hours till 9am, 48mm rainfall was recorded at Darjeeling and 38mm at Kalimpong points in West Bengal of India while no rainfalls were recorded downstream in the Brahmaputra basin.

The Dudhkumar was flowing below DM by 90cm at Pateshwari, Dharla by 64cm below DM at Kurigram and Brahmaputra was flowing below its DM by 69cm at Noonkhawa, 49cm at Hatia and 58cm at Chilmari points respectively at 9 am.

The Jamuna was flowing below DM by only 34cm at Fulchhari, 65cm at Shaghata, 32cm at Bahadurabad, 33cm at Sariakandi, 52cm at Kazipur and 35cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md. Habibur Rahman said Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, BWDB authorities, local monitoring committees and public representatives are closely observing the developing situation in the flood-prone areas. 

"The district and upazila administrations and BWDB are taking immediate steps when and where required to face the possible flood situation," he added.