Teesta water flowing above danger level

The water level of Teesta River was flowing 40cm above the danger level at Dalia Point of Teesta Barrage under Dimla upazila of Nilphamari district on Friday, submerging different char areas.
Relevant sources said the rising trend of water level would continue for two more days due to heavy rains in the upstream, reports agencies.
Executive Engineer of Dalia Water Development Board Md Asfauddin Daula said the water is flowing above the danger level at 6:00 am on the day and all the 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened to control the water flow.
Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the water level crossed the danger level at the barrage point at 6:00am on Thursday and was on the rise amid heavy downpour in the upstream.
More than 3,000 families of 15 Char villages of seven unions of Dimla upazila of Nilphamari district, surrounded by the river, were stranded as water submerged the areas.
Chairman of Khalishachapani Union Parishad of Dimla upazila Sahiduzzaman Sarkar said around 1,200 families of Chhotakhta and Baishpukur villages of the union became stranded as the water rose during the night.
The BWDB Dalia Division Executive Engineer also said, "The people on the banks of the river have been cautioned of possible danger with the help of the local administration. If there is any problem anywhere, BWDB is ready to deal with the challenge."
Teesta water is expected to remain above the danger mark for two days, he said.
According to the Teesta Barrage Water Development Board's Flood Forecasting Warning Centre, the water level will rise sharply from late Friday night and flow above the danger mark on Friday and Saturday and advised everyone to be careful.
Meanwhile, the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, Buri Teesta, and Saniajan rivers have increased due to the onrush of upstream water from India, causing flooding in the areas along the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila.
According to sources at the Water Development Board, there is panic among the people. This flooding situation has been created due to the opening of most of the gates of India's Gajoldoba Barrage.
Many are leaving their homes and moving to safer places. The water is flowing towards Bangladesh at a high speed. Most of the gates of the Teesta barrage have been opened to ease the onrush of upstream water.
As a result, 15,000 families from 10 villages in the char areas of Patgram, Saniyajan, Goddimari, Singimari, Sirduna, Patikapara, and Dauabari union of Hatibandha have been marooned due to the swelling water level of Teesta.
Many croplands, including the seeds of several thousand acres of Aman paddy, have been submerged in Teesta water. Meanwhile, the road communication system in the char areas has been broken due to the flooding.