Flooding expected in Feni’s low-lying areas

Low-lying areas of five more districts - Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona - are also at risk

The Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board has warned that the water levels of the Muhuri, Selonia and Feni rivers may rise due to heavy rainfall triggered by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, potentially causing short-term flooding in the low-lying areas of Feni district.

In its regular bulletin issued on Thursday, the centre noted that all major rivers across the country are currently flowing below the danger level.

The bulletin, citing the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said a well-marked low-pressure area in the west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a deep depression.

It is expected to move northwest and cross India’s Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Thursday night.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall has already been recorded in several parts of Bangladesh including the Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions.

Barguna received 119mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, while 78mm were logged in Dalia of Nilphamari and 50mm in Jamalpur.

While there has been no significant rainfall upstream in India, isolated heavy to very heavy rains are expected in Bangladesh and adjoining Indian states over the next two days, from the morning of Oct 2 through Oct 4.

As a result, the water levels of the Gomti, Muhuri, Selonia and Feni rivers in the Chattogram division may rise in the next two days.

The Muhuri, Selonia and Feni rivers could flow above danger levels in Feni district, bringing temporary flooding to nearby low-lying areas.

In Chattogram District, the Feni River is forecast to remain within the warning level, though low-lying areas could still see short-term inundation. Officials expect water levels to begin receding on the third day.

The FFWC also projected rising water levels in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division over the next three days.

During this period, the Teesta River may approach warning levels, leading to temporary flooding in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.

In the Mymensingh Division, the Someshwari, Bhugai and Kangsha rivers are also expected to swell in the coming days.

Water in these rivers may reach warning levels in Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona districts, causing localised flooding in low-lying areas.

Higher-than-normal tides are being reported in the coastal rivers of the Barishal, Khulna and Chattogram divisions, a situation likely to persist for the next two days.

River basins are expected to see mixed trends.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna water level may dip slightly for a day before rising over the next four days, though it is not expected to exceed the danger level.

The Ganga-Padma is projected to fall for two days and rise for three, while remaining below danger levels.

Water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara are also likely to rise in the next three days.

Elsewhere, the rivers of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions -- including the Upper Atrai, Punarbhaba, Korotoa, Jamuneswari, Mahananda, Ghaghot and Tangon -- are projected to rise over the next three days.

In Sylhet Division, the Manu, Khowai, Dholai, Sarigowain and Jadukata rivers are likely to swell for the next two days before stabilising.

The Halda, Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers in the Chattogram Division are also forecast to rise in the next two days, with levels declining on the third day.