Teesta flowing 41cm above danger mark; thousands marooned in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram

Teesta river continues to swell due to the incessant rains and onrush hilly water.

The river is flowing 41 cm above the danger level at Kaunia point and 10cm above the danger level at Teesta Barrage's Dalia point since 9:00am today, sources at Water Development Board told The Daily Star.

Following the rise in the water level, around 50,000 people remain marooned in 100 chars and riverside villages of 22 unions of eight upazilas in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, the WDB sources said.

Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of WDB in Kurigram, said Teesta water is flowing 41 cm above the danger level, causing flooding in Rajarhat, Ulipur and Chilmari upazilas of Kurigram.

The Brahmaputra and other rivers are rising in Kurigram, but the water level is below the danger mark. If the water in the Brahmaputra does not rise in the next 24 hours, the Teesta water will go down swiftly, the WDB official said.

Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat WDB Shunil Kumar said due to incessant rainfall and upstream water, a "short-term" flood situation is prevailing in Teesta shoal areas.

The water level of Dharla river in Lalmonirhat is also rising but it is still below danger level, he said.

Farmer Supen Chandra Barman, 65, of Rajpur village in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila told the correspondent that 2-3 feet water entered his house in the morning.

If the water rises a little more, they will have to leave the house, Supen said.

Farmer Fazlar Rahman, 65, of Gobordhan area of Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat, said they have left their home and took shelter on the WDB dyke. They are worried about their cattle, and his six chickens and three ducks were washed away in the river water.

Rajpur Union Parishad Chairman Mofazzal Hossain said that 6,000 to 7,000 people in his union have been affected by floodwater. The flood-affected people of remote char areas have moved to safer places. Aman paddy fields have been submerged by the floodwater, he said.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Kamruzzaman Sujan said they are ready to provide immediate assistance to the flood-hit people.