Low-lying areas in Rajarthat and Ulipur upazilas of Kurigram have already been flooded due to continuous rainfall for the last few days. As a result, panic has gripped people living on the banks of the Teesta River.
The river has been flowing 30cm above the danger level since Thursday due to an onrush of upstream water, the Met Office has said.
Moreover, Chungthang Dam in north Sikkim, on the Indian side of the Teesta River, has been damaged due to the heavy flood there, resulting in an increase in water level. The Sikkim region may experience heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.
The local administration has been asking people to move to designated shelters.
Rajarthat Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Kaberi Roy, said that they have kept 14 shelters prepared for the people in need, and locals were asked to remain alert in case of a sudden flood.
Kurigram Water Development Board's Executive Officer, Abdullah Al Mamun, said the water level in the river increased due to damage to the Chungthang Dam.
Teesta is now flowing 30 cm above the danger level at Kawnia Point, and it may flow over 50 cm further, he feared.
Addressing their preparations to face a possible flood, he said they alerted people with the help of the local administration.
Moreover, the Brahmaputra and the Ganges rivers are in a steady state, while the Jamuna and the Padma are in a falling trend, which may continue in the next 24 hours.
Except for Surma, major rivers in North-Eastern region of the country are on a rising trend, which may continue in the next 24 hours, according to meteorological agencies.
Dharla, the Dudhkumar, the Upper Karatoa, the Upper Atrai, the Punarvaba, the Kulikh,the Tangon, the Isamoti Jamuna, the Jamuneswari rivers may rise rapidly at times during this period, they added.
In Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur, ten houses on the bank of Teesta in Charichli village have been washed away. At least ten villages have been deserted by the people as they have taken shelter on higher ground.
A temporary embankment built by the local people has been breached by the strong current of the river. A Water Development Board official told Dhaka Tribune that they will request the higher authorities to build a permanent dyke in the area.
