Major rivers burst banks, more areas flooded

FE Team | Published: July 27, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

A number of rivers across the country have breached their banks leaving thousands marooned without adequate shelter or provisions, reports bdnews24.com.
At least six rivers are flowing at dangerous levels with a risk of further swelling in the Brahmaputra and Padma basins over the next 24 hours, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said in a forecast Thursday.
The flood situation in Sirajganj district worsened with the Jamuna in full spate at Sirajganj point. The river breached its protective embankment in several places, leaving more than 20 villages in deep water.
The low-lying districts of Pabna and Tangail have also been left vulnerable. Comilla district, however, has shown some improvement.
In Sirajganj, overflowing water from the Jamuna had breached a 3-km stretch of the Brahmaputra flood embankment at Palashpur. Further cracks in the flood defences have occurred at Shailabari and Simlab, leaving the Kunkunia Bridge in Kazipur threatened.
In Pabna, the flooding in 12 unions worsened, as the water level in the Padma and the Jamuna swelled simultaneously. About 5,000 people have been marooned there without adequate shelter or provisions.
Pabna Water Development Board Engineer Abdullahel Baqui said, the Padma swelled by 8-cm at Hardinge Bridge and 25-cm at Nagarbari point in the last 24 hours. "If the water does not recede and the spate continues for two or three more days, most areas in Pabna will be under water," he added.
In Manikganj, Kazirhat and Paturia ferry piers were submerged with a jetty at Daulatdia, damaged as a result of the huge onrush of river water.
Ariful Islam of the FFWC said, "Around midday the Teesta at Dalia point in Rangpur was flowing at least 5-cm above the danger level."
The Jamuna was 30-cm above danger level at Sirajganj, and 2-cm above the danger mark at Aricha point. In Goalando, the Padma was 30-cm above the danger level, and 11-cm at Bhaggyakul point.
Besides, the Surma stood at 87-cm above the danger level at Kanaighat point. At Durgapur point the Someshwari recorded a huge increase of 220-cm above the danger mark Thursday morning.