Staff Reporter:
Amid continued flooding in parts of northeast and growing risks in northernmost districts, Sirajganj appears set to meet the same fate.
Low lying areas in the district have already gone underwater damaging many croplands as water level in the mighty Jamuna River keep rising rapidly. On Thursday morning, the river was flowing just 1.13 metre below danger level at the town protection embankment.
Onrush of upstream water have sped up the rise in water levels.
The district’s Water Development Board has warned of small to medium scale flooding within the next three to four days threatening the normal lives of 2 to 2.5 lakh people.
Water levels are rising by around 40 centimetres everyday, Water Development Board sources said.
The board’s Executive Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman told reporters Jamuna River’s water level would continue to rise over the next four-five days triggering flash floods.
Authorities have set up about 180 flood shelters up in river bank areas and 695 tonnes of relief items for potential flood victims.
In the country’s northernmost region, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts are facing increased risks of flood due to a rapid rise in Teesta River water level.
About 5,000 families are already marooned in two upazilas in Lalmonirhat including the Sadar Upazila while 10 villages have been flooded in Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila due to eruption of cracks on a protection embankment.
