RANGPUR, June 23 (UNB): Water levels in the Teesta River continued to rise on Tuesday due to heavy rainfall and upstream inflows, bringing the river close to the danger mark and inundating low-lying areas in several northern districts.
At least 6,000 families living in char areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts have become stranded by floodwaters, said Ahsan Habib, Superintendent Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
With water pressure increasing, authorities have opened all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage at Dalia in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat to regulate the flow.
BWDB officials said the river was flowing 15 centimetres below the danger level at the Dalia point at 12pm on Tuesday, with a recorded water level of 52.00 metres.
Earlier, the water level was recorded at 52.05 metres at 9am, 10 centimetres below the danger mark, and just 5 centimetres below the danger level at 6am.
Residents along the Teesta River fear further flooding if water levels continue to rise.
Several low-lying areas in Hatibandha upazila, including Goddimari, Doani, Saniyajan, Nij Sheikh Sundar, Bagher Char, Singimari, Dhubni, Sindurna, Patikapara and Dauabari, as well as Shailmari, Char Bairati and Rudreshwar in Kaliganj upazila, and Mahishkhocha, Gobardhan and Sparbandh areas of Aditmari upazila, have already been inundated.
Agricultural land in Teesta char areas of Rangpur's Gangachara, Kaunia and Pirgachha upazilas, along with parts of Kurigram and Gaibandha districts, has also gone under water. Peanut fields, Aman seedbeds, sweet pumpkin plantations and other crops have been damaged, causing concern among farmers. Farmers said fluctuating river levels have added to their worries, as many seedbeds prepared for the upcoming Aman cultivation season are being damaged by floodwaters, forcing them to consider replanting.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said some families living on riverine chars have become stranded, and local union parishad chairmen have been instructed to prepare lists of affected households.
