Flood Forecast for Four Northern Districts

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Water levels in various rivers in the northern region have risen due to heavy to very heavy rainfall within the country and heavy rainfall in India’s Arunachal Pradesh upstream. The Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are flowing above their danger marks. 

Assistant Engineer Nusrat Jahan Jerin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) stated that there is a risk of floods in four northern districts. 

She informed that due to heavy rainfall, rivers in the four northern districts of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Rangpur are flowing above the danger level. The flood situation may persist due to continuous rain. Additionally, there is a risk of floods in the Sylhet division.

Teesta water rising: The water level of the Teesta River has rapidly increased due to upstream hill torrents, reaching close to the danger mark. To manage the situation, all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage’s Dalia point, the country’s largest irrigation project, have been kept open.

Meanwhile, yesterday at 3 PM, the river’s water level at the Teesta Barrage (Dalia) point, the largest irrigation project in Lalmonirhat, was flowing 15 centimeters below the danger mark. The day before, at the same time, the water flow was 41 centimeters below the danger mark. 

The Water Development Board (WDB) reported that yesterday at 9 AM, the river’s water was flowing 13 centimeters below the danger mark at that location. Due to the rising river water, some crop fields in low-lying areas along the riverbanks in various upazilas of Lalmonirhat have been submerged.

Flood threat in Sylhet: Amidst the risk of flash floods in the low-lying areas of Sylhet, rainfall has continued for several days. Among these, over 141 millimeters of rainfall were recorded in Sylhet in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning yesterday, making it the highest rainfall in a short period this season.

The Meteorological Department announced that such rainfall will continue for a few more days. There is a risk of low-lying areas being inundated for the next three days.

Sylhet meteorologist Rudra Talukdar stated yesterday afternoon that 140.7 millimeters of rain fell in Sylhet in the 24 hours from 6 AM Friday to 6 AM Saturday. From 6 AM Saturday to 12 PM, 35.2 millimeters of rainfall were recorded. Heavy rainfall has been ongoing for several days in various Indian states, including Meghalaya. This poses a risk of rising river water levels in the districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Habiganj. 

According to the Water Development Board (WDB) data, although river water levels in Sylhet are currently well below the danger mark, there is a risk of heavy rainfall in India for the next three days. This poses a significant risk of Sylhet’s rivers exceeding the danger mark during this period. 

The Met Office has forecast heavy rainfall in many places across four divisions—Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chittagong, and Sylhet—under the influence of the monsoon. During this time, temporary gusty winds and rain or thundershowers with lightning may occur. Additionally, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across the country. 

The Met Office provided this information in its weather bulletin at 6 PM on Saturday (June 20).

Meteorologist Shahinul Islam said that the extended low-pressure area stretches from Gangetic West Bengal to the Northwest Bay of Bengal. The monsoon is active over the country. Under its influence, heavy rainfall may occur in many parts of the country. This rainfall could persist for at least three more days.

The Meteorological Department has forecast stormy rain in 10 regions and warned of lightning strikes. Rain or thundershowers are expected in Tangail, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Sylhet regions. 

Simultaneously, temporary squally winds, blowing from the east-southeast at speeds of 45-60 kilometers per hour, may sweep over these regions. This information was provided in the forecast issued for inland river ports yesterday, Saturday, at 3 PM.