Three Northern Districts: Floodwater inundates low-lying areas

Thousands of people in three northern districts have been marooned after low-lying areas got inundated.

The Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers have been swelling up since Thursday due to incessant rain and onrush of water from upstream, said officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).

"There is a chance of heavy to very heavy rain in the northern and adjoining areas of the country in the next 24 hours. As a result, the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers of this region may rise at times during the period," said a weather bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre at 9:00am yesterday.

It also forecast, "The flood situation in low-lying areas of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram may remain steady in the next 24 hours."

Houses, roads and vast tracts of farmlands have been submerged, while poultries and crops were washed away in some areas.

Many people have taken shelter on roads, dykes and in flood centres. They are having only dry food as cooking is impossible there.

Officials said they have already started distributing relief materials among the victims.

In Lalmonirhat, around 1 lakh people of 45 char (shoal) areas and 18 villages have been waterlogged as water of the Teesta and Dharla is increasing, according to the local administration.

The Teesta was flowing 40cm above the danger level at Dalia point of Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha upazila at 6:00am yesterday, while the Dharla was flowing 22cm above the danger mark at Shimulbari point in Sadar upazila, said BWDB officials.

All the 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage were opened as there was huge pressure of water from upstream, said Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of BWDB in Lalmonirhat.

"Floodwater entered my home on Thursday. My poultries were washed away. I along with my family members have taken shelter on a road," said Achia Bewa, 60, of Falimari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

"Around one maund of paddy and some rice were washed away from my house. We have been taking dry food since Thursday night as we don't have any scope to cook food," said Nur Haque Mandal, 65, of Char Gobordhan area of Aditmari upazila.

In Kurigram, around 1 lakh people of 35 char (shoal) areas and 22 villages have been affected by flood, according to the district relief office.

The Dudhkumar was flowing 56cm above the danger level at Pateshwari point of Nageshwari upazila at noon yesterday.

The flood control dykes have become vulnerable at four places along the Dudhkumar char areas, said Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of BWDB in Kurigram.

The flood situation is worsening as the Dudhkumar continues to get swollen, he added.

In Nilphamari, around 25,000 people have been hit by flood after low-lying areas of Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas went under water, according to BWDB.

The Teesta was flowing 32cm above the danger mark at Dowani point near the Teesta Barrage at 6:00am yesterday, said Rashedin Mowla, sub-divisional engineer of the BWDB.

"My house was washed away on Thursday night. Now, we are staying at a relative's house," said Jonab Ali, 55, of Uttar Kharibari village in Dimla upazila.

[Our Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari correspondents contributed to this report.]