Due to mountain torrents from upstream and heavy rainfall, the water level in the Teesta River has risen, approaching the danger level. This has raised concerns of flooding in the low-lying areas along the Teesta River. Panic has spread among the people of over a hundred char (river islands). As the water level rises, crops in the riverbank's lowlands are starting to submerge.
On Monday (July 21), at 10 AM, the Kurigram correspondent of The Ittefaq reported that at 9 AM, the water at the Kurigram point was flowing at 29.9 cm, nearing the danger level of 29.31 cm.
To control the water flow in the Teesta River, authorities have opened 44 sluice gates at the Teesta Barrage, the country’s largest irrigation project.
Flooding is feared in the low-lying areas of the districts of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram, which are adjacent to the Teesta River.
On Sunday, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Water Development Board (WDB) issued a forecast regarding this. WDB's executive engineer in Kurigram, Rakibul Hasan, confirmed this information.
The forecast indicates that the water levels in the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are rising. Over the next 24 hours, these rivers' water levels could continue to rise, and they may remain stable for the next two days.
According to the report from WDB's control room in Kurigram, 148 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in the Teesta Basin over the last 24 hours. Between 6 AM and 3 PM on Sunday, the water level in the Teesta at the Kaunia gauge station in Rangpur increased by 14 cm. At that time, the water was flowing 40 cm below the danger level.
The forecast issued on Sunday also mentioned the possibility of flooding in the low-lying areas near the Teesta River. It stated, "In the next 24 hours, the water level in the Teesta River could rise and surpass the danger level. This could lead to flood conditions in the low-lying areas near the rivers in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Lalmonirhat districts."
Milon, a resident of Chatura in the Vidyanand Union near the Tista River in Rajarhat, said, "The water level is rising slightly, but it hasn't reached the level of flooding yet."
Rakibul Hasan, the executive engineer of WDB Kurigram, stated that the water in the Teesta may exceed the danger level, which could submerge some homes and agricultural lands in the low-lying areas. However, this would likely be short-term flooding.
Meanwhile, The Ittefaq's correspondent from Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha reported that fields and rice paddies have already been submerged in the area. As of Sunday evening at 6 PM, the water level at the Teesta Barrage, located at the country’s largest irrigation point in Hatibandha, was flowing just 7 cm below the danger level. Low-lying areas and rice fields in Hatibandha have already been flooded.
Nur Islam, a member of the Goddimari Union Parishad, said, "It rained heavily on Sunday morning. Now, a large volume of water is coming from upstream. Water has already started entering the low-lying areas."
Nurul Islam, the level measurer at Dalia Barrage, stated that all 44 gates of the barrage were kept open due to rising water pressure. He added that the water levels started rising from Friday night.
Advocate Mashuor Rahman, Chairman of the Daubari Union Parishad (UP), said, "When flooding occurs, people in several wards get stranded. Due to the rising water levels, some families in low-lying areas have already become stranded."
Sunil Kumar, Executive Engineer of the WDB in Lalmonirhat, said, "Along with the water coming from upstream, rainfall has caused the river water levels to rise and enter the low-lying areas. We are continuously monitoring the situation."
