Teesta still flowing above red mark

NILPHAMARI, July 2 (UNB): The Teesta water was still flowing 20cm above its danger level in the district as of Thursday afternoon due to the onrush of water from the upstream.

The gushing water damaged six roads and three embankments in Dimla upazila, submerging many houses and vast croplands.  Sources at Dalia Flood Rehabilitation Centre said the water level in the river rose 25cm above its red mark at Dalia point on Wednesday night.

However, the water started receding since on Thursday morning and it was flowing 20cm above the danger level at the Dalia point at 3pm on Thursday.

All the sluice gates at Dalia Teesta Barrage have been kept open to control the water flow.

Meanwhile, around 10,000 people of the low-lying villages and chars along the river have been taken to safer places following the red alert issued at Doumahani of India as the Teesta water was flowing 52cm above the danger level there on Wednesday.  Tepakharibari union parishad chairman Rabiul Islam Shahin said the gushing Teesta water damaged six roads and thee embankments in Tepakharibari and Khalicha unions in Dimla.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Nilphamari Zakir Hossain and Dimla UNO Rezaul Karim visited the Teesta Barrage area on Thursday morning.  During the visit, the DC asked the local representatives and government officials to take the flood-affected people to safer places and provide them with all kinds of assistance.

The district administration has also allocated 10 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 50,000 in cash for the flood victims.