Flood triggered by the rise in water level of the Padma River after India opened the sluice gates of the Farakka Barrage to ease Bihar flood situation left several hundred people in four upazilas of Rajshahi marooned, report agencies. SM Ali Mortuja, officer of Rajshahi Water Development Board, said the water level of the mighty river is about to reach its danger mark with a 2cm rise in every three hours. At the current rate, the danger level will cross by Saturday night. The water level at the point was recorded at 18.50 cm.
The water flow of the Padma is increasing as India has opened the floodgates of Farakka Barrage, said Ali Mortuja. The swelling of the Padma has already flooded Goodagari, Paba, Charghat and Bagha upazilas. Haripur UP chairman Bajle Rizbee al Hasan Munjil said the people of seven flood-affected villages in his union are also facing difficulties with their cattle. The flooding also left some 60,000 people in 30 villages of Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia marooned. Water has poured into almost all the houses in 30 villages of Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions of Daulatpur upazila leaving about 60,000 people marooned and huge jute, rice, chili and other agricultural produces stored in houses damaged, said locals. Chilmari UP chairman Syed Ahmed said the people of 18 flood-affected villages in his union are also facing difficulties with their cattle.
Meanwhile, water levels at 25 rivers stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise and 61 stations recorded fall and two is above danger level. Among the 90 monitored river stations one registered steady, a bulletin of FFWC said yesterday. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Padma and Surma rivers are in falling trend, while the Ganges River is in rising trend. The Brahmaputra -Jamuna rivers may continue to fall for the next 72 hours. The Ganges river may continue to rise for the next 24 hours. Ganges at Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points are flowing 11 cm, 11 cm and 12 cm respectively below their Danger Level and Mohanonda at Chapai-Nawabganj point is flowing 15 cm below its Danger Level as on 9:00am. The Padma River may remain steady in the next 24 hours. Surma River may continue to fall in next 24 hours.