Teesta water recedes, displaced people begin returning home

The water levels in the Teesta River have started to recede, with the river now flowing below the danger mark. 

As a result, displaced residents are slowly returning to their homes, although riverbank erosion continues to affect the area.

As of 9:00am on Monday (September 30), water flow at the Teesta Barrage point was recorded at 51.70 cm, which is now 45 cm below the danger level. 

Just a day earlier, on Sunday morning, the river had been flowing two centimeters above the flood limit.

Locals reported that the water levels began to decrease on Sunday night. Although many residents have started returning home, some people in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila and Aditmari Upazila are still unable to return due to impassable roads. Livestock management has also become challenging for the affected communities.

The Agriculture Department reported that three thousand hectares of cropland across five upazilas in Lalmonirhat were submerged during the three-day flood. Additionally, 11 primary schools in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila and eight in Aditmari Upazila have had to close due to the floods.

A resident of Teesta Char, Gol Banu, expressed her distress, saying, "Three bighas of my land have gone under water. I am worried about what we will eat in the future."

Rashedin Islam, Executive Deputy Engineer of the Teesta Barrage Water Development Board, confirmed that floodwaters have started to recede and that the water is now flowing below the danger level at the barrage point.

Deputy Commissioner Rakib Howladar stated that Tk 13 lakh and 90 tons of rice have been allocated for flood relief in the district. He assured that district and upazila administrations are fully prepared to manage the situation.