Teesta swells above danger level as upstream surge triggers red alert

Water at the Dalia point in Nilphamari is flowing at 52.22m

The Teesta River has swollen again following heavy rainfall and a fresh upstream surge, pushing water levels above the danger mark and beginning to inundate cropland on riverine chars.

At 6pm on Sunday, the river was flowing at 52.22m at the Dalia point in Nilphamari, 7cm above the danger level of 52.15m, according to Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board's Dalia Division.

The latest surge, driven by runoff from the mountains of Bhutan and Sikkim, has also pushed the Teesta above danger levels at the Domohani and Mekhliganj points in India's West Bengal before the water entered Bangladesh.

Red alerts have reportedly been issued along the river in both countries.

"We remain on alert and have kept all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage open," Amitabh said.

He said the administration had advised residents living along the river to remain vigilant, while those in low-lying areas had been asked to prepare for any emergency.

Authorities were closely monitoring the situation, he added.

On Tuesday, the Teesta briefly rose 1cm above the danger level at 3pm before receding by the evening.

Lalmonirhat

Rising water levels in the Teesta have inundated low-lying riverside areas in Lalmonirhat, leaving hundreds of families stranded.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the river had first crossed the danger mark by 1cm on Jun 23, before receding the following day.

Water levels began rising again on Sunday afternoon, submerging roads and cropland in sandbars and low-lying areas across five Upazilas.

Rahim Uddin, a resident of Sindurna village in Hatibandha Upazila, said the sudden rise had marooned many shoal dwellers.

Floodwaters had entered homes, leaving families struggling to protect livestock as well as children and elderly relatives.

The increased pressure has also put the Teesta flood control embankment and elevated riverside roads at risk.

Locals accused the BWDB of failing to carry out durable repairs during the dry season, alleging it instead resorts to costly emergency work during the monsoon, leaving them exposed to flooding and river erosion every year.

BWDB officials said they were closely monitoring the flood situation and urged residents along the river to remain vigilant.