The flood situation remained stable today further lessening risk of a flood alongside the river Teesta, despite a little rise in water level amid a forecast of medium to heavy rainfall in the Teesta basin.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said the Teesta was flowing below the danger mark (DM) by 90 cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and 42 cm below the DM at Kawnia point in Rangpur at 6 pm Friday.
"Despite a possibility of medium to heavy rainfall in the northern region and upstream in India during the next 24 hours, the flood situation may remain steady," said Additional Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Engineer Md. Mahbubur Rahman.
Meanwhile, pressure of the rushing water from the damaged Chungthang Dam in North Sikkim of India following outburst of the Glacial Lhonak Lake has largely reduced further reducing the risk of a flood in the downstream Teesta basin.
"Water level of the Teesta may mark a little rise and fall amid a chance of medium to heavy rainfall in the country's northern, northwestern and upstream regions in the next 24 hours," Rahman said.
Despite inundation of some low-lying areas and sporadic erosion of riverbank at fewer places alongside the Teesta river course in Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts, the situation might improve in the coming days.
Earlier, the Glacial Lhonak Lake outburst flood damaged the upstream Chungthang Dam in Sikkim of India on Wednesday causing an abnormal water flow in the Teesta and a sudden flood in the basin.
"We have kept all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) on the Teesta at Dalia point open to control the water flow for safety and security of barrage, flood control embankment and devices," Rahman added.
According to a special bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Teesta water level may rise again in the next 24 hours and remain around or below the DM in the basin.
Quoting information received from the India Meteorological Department, the bulletin said there is a possibility of medium to heavy rainfall in the northern region and adjoining upstream Teesta basin in India during the next 24 hours.
"As result, water level of the Teesta might rise to some extent again," the bulletin said, adding that the risk associated with flood situation has further reduced in the Teesta basin.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioners, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officers, Nirbahi Officers and other officials are continuously visiting the flood-prone areas in some 12 upazilas of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts.
Earlier, the upazila administrations with local public representatives informed common people of flood-prone areas using loudspeakers about a possible flash flood and shifted some of them to flood shelters as a precautionary measure.
Divisional Commissioner Md. Habibur Rahman said the local administrations have taken ample measures to shift people living alongside the river Teesta to flood shelters and conduct relief and rescue operations, if necessary.
"Officials of the district and upazila administrations and BWDB and local public representatives are closely monitoring the situation and taking immediate steps when and where necessary," he said.
