FFWC warns of short-term flooding in five northern districts

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has warned that water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in northern Rangpur Division are expected to rise again over the next three days, increasing the risk of short-term flooding in low-lying riverside areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Kurigram.

According to the FFWC, the Kushiyara River is currently flowing above the danger level at the Fenchuganj point in Sylhet and the Markuli point in Sunamganj.

The warning was issued today (Friday) in the centre‍‍`s rainfall, river conditions, and flood forecast report, signed by Assistant Engineer Mostafa Kamal Jihan.

The report said water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers declined slightly over the past 24 hours. However, rainfall in upstream areas is expected to cause the rivers to rise again over the next three days. Water levels may exceed danger levels at several locations, potentially triggering short-term flooding in low-lying riverside areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Kurigram.

In the northeastern region, water levels in the Kushiyara River increased over the past 24 hours, while the Surma River receded. Both rivers are forecast to rise again over the next three days. However, flood conditions in the Surma-Kushiyara basin of Sylhet and Sunamganj are expected to remain largely stable over the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma river systems also increased during the past 24 hours, with the rising trend expected to continue for the next five days. As a result, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna may reach warning levels at several monitoring points in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, and Bogura, raising the risk of inundation in some low-lying riverside areas.

Elsewhere, water levels in the Feni, Muhuri, Gomti, and Selonia rivers fell over the past 24 hours. They may rise slightly over the next day before remaining relatively stable for the following two days, the FFWC said.

The centre also noted that the well-marked low-pressure area over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and the adjoining coasts of northern Odisha and West Bengal has weakened into a low-pressure area. It is now located over northern Odisha and the adjoining regions of Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal.