Flooding risk grows for northern, northeastern Bangladesh

Several rivers may swell above danger level

Heavy rainfall upstream and inside Bangladesh has raised the risk of rivers crossing danger level in the north and northeast.

Flash or short-term flooding may affect low-lying areas in parts of the regions, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said on Sunday.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), heavy to very heavy rain is forecast over the next two days in Rangpur and Sylhet divisions, and upstream in India's Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

For the northern region, the FFWC said water levels in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers remained steady over the past 24 hours but may rise over the next three days.

Within the next 24 to 48 hours, these rivers may flow above danger levels at some locations, raising the possibility of flash or short-term flooding in riverbank lowlands of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram.

For the northeastern region, the bulletin says water levels in the Surma River have risen over the past 24 hours, while the Kushiyara River has remained steady.

Both rivers are likely to rise during the next three days.

Over the next 48 hours, these rivers may also cross danger levels at some points, creating short-term flooding in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj or keeping existing flood conditions unchanged.

The Kushiyara River is currently flowing above danger level at the Fenchuganj station in Sylhet and the Markuli station in Sunamganj.

On the country's major rivers, the FFWC says the Brahmaputra remained steady during the past 24 hours, while the Jamuna continued to rise, a trend that may persist over the next five days.

Between Jul 20 and Jul 24, water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system may reach the warning level at some points in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, Sirajganj and Tangail, inundating nearby low-lying areas.

In Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, water levels in the Sarigowain, Jadukata and Kangsha rivers have remained stable, while the Someshwari and Bhugai have risen.

The Someshwari River in Netrokona may flow above danger level at some locations within the next 24 to 72 hours, raising the risk of short-term flooding in adjacent lowlands.

The bulletin also said water levels in the Upper Karatoya, Upper Atrai, Tangon, Punarbhaba, Mahananda and Jamuneshwari rivers in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions have increased, while the Ghaghat, Atrai, Karatoya and Chhoto Jamuna have fallen.

Water levels in those rivers are also likely to rise over the next three days.