Bangladesh's flood outlook has worsened as relentless monsoon rains and heavy downpours in upstream regions of adjoining Indian states continue to swell major rivers, prompting warnings of flash floods in several northern and southeastern districts.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) on Wednesday warned of short-duration flooding in low-lying areas of northern districts and a likely deterioration of the flood situation in Chattogram, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar over the next three days.
The warning came as the Sangu River at Bandarban and the Matamuhuri River at Lama were already flowing above their respective danger levels.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said an active monsoon, combined with a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions over the next 72 hours.
Heavy rainfall is also forecast in the upstream catchments of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and West Bengal in India, increasing the likelihood of further rises in river levels.
According to the FFWC, the Gomti, Muhuri, Feni, Selonia, Halda, Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are expected to continue rising, raising the risk of flooding in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar within the next 24 to 72 hours.
Rivers in Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari may cross danger levels at several points, causing temporary inundation in adjacent low-lying areas, while parts of Lakshmipur and Noakhali may also be affected, it said.
In northern Bangladesh, the Teesta River is forecast to rise above the danger level within the next 24 to 48 hours following heavy rainfall across its basin.
The FFWC warned that low-lying areas of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur could face short-term flooding if the river continues to rise. The Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers are also expected to approach warning levels in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram within the next 72 hours.
The centre also warned that rapidly rising water levels in the Manu, Dhalai, Khoai, Kangsha, Sarigowain, Someshwari and Jadukata rivers could trigger flash floods in parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrakona, Sherpur and Mymensingh.
The Surma River has also risen sharply, while the Kushiyara River remains close to warning levels at Fenchuganj and Markuli. Both rivers could reach warning levels within the next three days if heavy rainfall persists, the FFWC said.
According to FFWC data, the Sangu River was flowing 96 centimetres above the danger mark at Bandarban station, while the Matamuhuri River stood 14 centimetres above the danger level at Lama.
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