Bangla Press Desk: Water levels in the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat receded slightly on Friday morning after crossing the danger mark overnight due to upstream hill runoff and heavy rainfall. However, residents of low-lying riverbank areas remain on edge amid fears of a fresh spell of short-term flooding.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has opened all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage to regulate the rising flow as concerns grow over renewed flooding in the river’s char (sandbar) areas.
At 6pm on Friday, the Teesta’s water level at Dalia Point of the country’s largest irrigation project, the Teesta Barrage, was flowing 16 centimetres below the danger level.
Just a day earlier, at 9pm on Thursday, the river had been flowing 3 centimetres above the danger mark.
According to the BWDB and local sources, the river experienced a rapid rise over the previous 12 hours. At 6am on Thursday, the water level was 21 centimetres below the danger level, but it rose sharply throughout the day, reaching just 1 centimetre below the danger mark by 6pm before crossing it later that night.
The sudden fluctuation in water levels has raised concerns among farmers over possible damage to standing crops in low-lying areas.
Ripon Mia, a farmer from Gobardhan area of Aditmari upazila, said the Teesta was now flowing almost bank-full.
“We are still staying in our homes, but if the water rises further, we may have to move to safer places. Although there has been little rainfall during the day, it has been raining almost every night, and upstream hill runoff continues to flow into the river,” he said.
Sunil Kumar Roy, executive engineer of the Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said heavy rainfall both upstream and within the country had caused the river to rise rapidly.
“All 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened to help manage the flow,” he said, adding that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have advised residents of riverbank and char areas to remain alert.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the Teesta’s water level may rise further over the next 24 to 48 hours, potentially triggering short-term flooding in low-lying and char areas of Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram districts.
Local authorities have also been placed on alert and are closely monitoring the evolving flood situation.
