Three rivers breach red line as heavy rain raises flood risk

Heavy rain over the next 48 to 72 hours could trigger fresh flooding and worsen inundation

Heavy rain forecast over the coming days has heightened flood fears after three rivers crossed the danger level at four monitoring stations.

The three rivers prompted flood alert in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said on Tuesday.

It said Kushiara River was flowing above the danger level at Fenchuganj in Sylhet and Markuli in Sunamganj. The Surma crossed the danger mark at Chhatak in Sunamganj, while the Someshwari remained above danger level at Khaliajuri and Kalmakanda in Netrokona.

The FFWC, which operated under the Water Development Board, said heavy rainfall is likely over the next 48 to 72 hours in the Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal divisions, raising the risk of short-term flooding in several districts.

In Rangpur Division, the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers are rising and could cross the danger level within 24 hours, threatening low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram.

Water levels in the Surma-Kushiara river system are also expected to keep rising over the next two days, with additional points likely to exceed the danger mark, potentially worsening flood conditions in Sylhet and Sunamganj.

The Atrai River may trigger short-term flooding in parts of Naogaon, while the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma river systems are forecast to continue rising, with riverside areas in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, Sirajganj and Tangail facing possible inundation.

In the southeast, the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers may reach warning level between Jul 22 and 23, increasing the risk of temporary flooding in low-lying areas of Bandarban, Cox's Bazar and Chattogram.