The Teesta River has crossed its danger level (DL) by 3cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari at 9 pm tonight, with a possibility of temporary flooding in low-lying areas amid heavy rains in upstream regions over the last 24 hours. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials reported that the intensity of monsoon rains has increased in the northeastern Indian states and northern Bangladesh, creating a likelihood of temporary flooding in the low-lying areas of greater Rangpur.
Rising Water Levels
Executive Engineer of the BWDB's Teesta Barrage Division, Amitav Chowdhury, informed that following a sharp rise in the water level in the last six hours, the Teesta was flowing above its DL by 3cm at 9 pm at Dalia near the Teesta Barrage Project. Earlier, the river was flowing below its DL by 11cm at Dalia point at 3 pm today. As the water level continues to rise due to heavy onrush of water from upstream, the Teesta may inundate the low-lying floodplains and char areas in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Monitoring and Precautions
Currently, all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) are remaining open as a common practice to control the huge water flow at Dalia point where water levels of the river were still showing a rising trend. BWDB's Rangpur Circle Superintending Engineer Md Ahsan Habib stated that their officials are closely monitoring the situation. A temporary flood situation may be created in the low-lying char areas of Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Lalmonirhat districts during the next couple of days.
Additional River Levels
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB reported in a bulletin today that water levels of the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern Rangpur region have increased during the last 24 hours. During the next 24 to 48 hours, the Teesta may continue to flow above the DL at some locations in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Rangpur districts, causing short-term flooding in adjacent low-lying areas. Additionally, during the next 72 hours, the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers may flow at Warning Level in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, and adjacent low-lying areas may be temporarily inundated.
Forecasted Rainfall
According to meteorological agencies, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over the Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi divisions of Bangladesh, as well as the adjoining Indian states of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal, during the next two days. The recorded rainfalls in the upstream Indian states during the last 24 hours till 9am today were 245mm at Mawkyrwat, 224mm at Cherrapunji, 211mm at RKM Sohra, 201mm at Williamnagar, 196mm at Mawsynram, 155mm at Ratacherra, 137mm at Kalimpong, and 126mm at Darjeeling points.
Current River Levels
During the same period, 125mm rainfall was recorded at Chilmari in Kurigram, 163mm at Sirajganj, 50.5mm at Kurigram, 51mm at Gaibandha, and 49mm at Kawnia in Rangpur points. The Dudhkumar was flowing below the DL by 127cm at Pateshwari, Dharla by 178cm below its DL at Kurigram, and Brahmaputra was flowing below its DL by 175cm at Noonkhawa, 150cm at Hatia, and 125cm at Chilmari points respectively at 3 pm today. The Jamuna was flowing below its DL by 134cm at Fulchhari, 130cm at Bahadurabad, 157cm at Shaghata, 139cm at Sariakandi, 185cm at Kazipur, and 142cm at Sirajganj points at 3 pm today.
