Flood situation worsens as more rivers rise above danger level

Relentless monsoon rains over Bangladesh and adjoining Indian catchments have sharply aggravated the flood situation, with swollen rivers spilling into new areas.
However, the authorities have issued a warning that the crisis could spread further over the next three days as more rivers approach or exceed danger levels.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said 10 monitoring stations on six rivers were flowing above the danger mark as of Thursday evening, compared with only three stations on two rivers the previous evening, indicating a rapid deterioration in the country's flood outlook.
According to the FFWC, the rivers currently flowing above the danger level are the Sangu at Bandarban and Dohazari, the Matamuhuri at Lama and Chiringa, the Manu at Manu Railway Bridge and Moulvibazar, the Khowai at Ballah and Habiganj, the Dhalai at Kamalganj, and the Kushiyara at Markuli. Among them, the Khowai at Ballah was flowing 220 centimetres above the danger mark, while the Matamuhuri at Lama, Sangu at Bandarban and Khowai at Habiganj were 154 cm, 142 cm and 115 cm above the danger level respectively.
Floodwaters are expected to expand into additional districts as intense rainfall continues.
According to the FFWC forecast, the Gomti, Muhuri, Feni, Selonia and Halda rivers in Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari could rise above danger level at some points within the next 24 to 48 hours, triggering short-duration flooding in adjoining low-lying areas.
Parts of Lakshmipur and Noakhali may also experience temporary inundation, it said.
In the northeast area, water levels of the Surma and Kushiyara  river systems are expected to rise rapidly over the next three days, potentially worsening flood conditions in Sylhet and Sunamganj.
The Sarigowain, Someshwari, Jadukata and Bhugai-Kangsha rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur and Mymensingh may also cross danger level at several locations within the next one to two days.
Northern Bangladesh is also coming under increasing threat, according to the FFWC.
The Teesta River is forecast to exceed danger level at some locations in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur during the next 24 to 48 hours, while the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers could rise to warning level within 72 hours, raising the risk of inundation in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram.
The worsening flood outlook has been driven by exceptionally heavy rainfall across both Bangladesh and upstream Indian catchments, said Mahmudul Islam Shovon, Assistant Engineer at the FFWC.
During the past 24 hours, the country's highest rainfall was recorded at 298 millimetres in Chattogram, followed by Sunamganj with 265 mm, Atrai in Naogaon 260 mm, Naogaon town 240 mm and Lama in Bandarban 207 mm and Bandarban with 196 mm.
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