Heavy rain paralyses life in Rangpur region
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Heavy rainfall was recorded at most places in greater Rangpur region during the last 24-hours that has paralysed normal life and caused water-logging in both the rural and urban areas, reports BSS.
All major rivers and their tributaries marked rise following the incessant heavy rain and onrush of water from the upper catchments during the period in greater Rangpur.
Only a few people were seen outside their houses in Rangpur, Dinajpur and adjoining districts since Saturday morning due to torrential shower from Friday night.
The Teesta marked a sharp rise by 51-cm during the past 24-hours and was flowing at 52.16-m, only 9-cm below its danger mark (DM), at Dalia point in Nilphamari at 6:00am, and it may cross the DM soon, officials said.
Following the water-level rise in the Teesta, people in many low-lying char areas of Dimla, Domar and Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, and Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari in Lalmonirhat are amid apprehension of inundation of their villages soon.
Some sporadic incidents of devouring arable and barren lands by the Brahmaputra were reported from the erosion-prone char areas in Kurigram and Gaibandha.
"The unstable sandy-soil structures in the riversides are highly vulnerable to draining of rain water and strong river currents, and there is no major erosion noticed so far in the area," WDB Executive Engineer Shahidul Islam said.
However, there is still no flood-like situation in Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha, where the rivers also marked rise, but were flowing two to three metres below their respective danger marks at all points, officials in the Water Development Board (WDB) said.
Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur Kamal Shariful Alam said the rainfall will cause no harm, as there is no growing crop in the fields now, and will definitely help the farmers in preparing their lands for sowing Aman seeds.
The WDB and local Met Office sources said the incessant monsoon rain, which started showering from Friday midnight, were continuing almost everywhere in the northern districts until Saturday.
During the past 24-hours, the WDB recorded 162-mm rainfall at Dalia point, 71.3-mm at Kurigram, 63.1-mm at Rangpur, 68-mm at Kawnia, and 61.3-mm at Chilmari.
Besides, the local Met office recorded a total of 86.4-mm rainfall during the past 30-hours period until 12noon Saturday at Rangpur point.
The WDB sources said the Brahmaputra marked a rise by 10-cm during the past 24-hours until 6:00am, and was flowing at 21.12-m, which was 2.88-m below its danger mark at Chilmari point in Kurigram.
The Teesta marked a rise by one-cm during the period and was flowing at 28.11-m at Kawnia point in Rangpur at 6:00am, which was 1.89-m below the danger mark.
The Dharla marked a rise by 6-cm during the period, and was flowing at 24-m at Kurigram point at 6:00am, which was 2.50-m below its danger mark.
The Dudhkumar, Jamuna, Mohananda, Karotoa, Chhoto Jamuna, Atrai, Ghaghot, Saniyazan, Punarbhoba, Tulshiganga, Jinjiram, Sonabhori and other tributaries marked little rise, and were flowing much below the respective danger marks Saturday, sources said.
All major rivers and their tributaries marked rise following the incessant heavy rain and onrush of water from the upper catchments during the period in greater Rangpur.
Only a few people were seen outside their houses in Rangpur, Dinajpur and adjoining districts since Saturday morning due to torrential shower from Friday night.
The Teesta marked a sharp rise by 51-cm during the past 24-hours and was flowing at 52.16-m, only 9-cm below its danger mark (DM), at Dalia point in Nilphamari at 6:00am, and it may cross the DM soon, officials said.
Following the water-level rise in the Teesta, people in many low-lying char areas of Dimla, Domar and Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, and Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari in Lalmonirhat are amid apprehension of inundation of their villages soon.
Some sporadic incidents of devouring arable and barren lands by the Brahmaputra were reported from the erosion-prone char areas in Kurigram and Gaibandha.
"The unstable sandy-soil structures in the riversides are highly vulnerable to draining of rain water and strong river currents, and there is no major erosion noticed so far in the area," WDB Executive Engineer Shahidul Islam said.
However, there is still no flood-like situation in Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha, where the rivers also marked rise, but were flowing two to three metres below their respective danger marks at all points, officials in the Water Development Board (WDB) said.
Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur Kamal Shariful Alam said the rainfall will cause no harm, as there is no growing crop in the fields now, and will definitely help the farmers in preparing their lands for sowing Aman seeds.
The WDB and local Met Office sources said the incessant monsoon rain, which started showering from Friday midnight, were continuing almost everywhere in the northern districts until Saturday.
During the past 24-hours, the WDB recorded 162-mm rainfall at Dalia point, 71.3-mm at Kurigram, 63.1-mm at Rangpur, 68-mm at Kawnia, and 61.3-mm at Chilmari.
Besides, the local Met office recorded a total of 86.4-mm rainfall during the past 30-hours period until 12noon Saturday at Rangpur point.
The WDB sources said the Brahmaputra marked a rise by 10-cm during the past 24-hours until 6:00am, and was flowing at 21.12-m, which was 2.88-m below its danger mark at Chilmari point in Kurigram.
The Teesta marked a rise by one-cm during the period and was flowing at 28.11-m at Kawnia point in Rangpur at 6:00am, which was 1.89-m below the danger mark.
The Dharla marked a rise by 6-cm during the period, and was flowing at 24-m at Kurigram point at 6:00am, which was 2.50-m below its danger mark.
The Dudhkumar, Jamuna, Mohananda, Karotoa, Chhoto Jamuna, Atrai, Ghaghot, Saniyazan, Punarbhoba, Tulshiganga, Jinjiram, Sonabhori and other tributaries marked little rise, and were flowing much below the respective danger marks Saturday, sources said.