Low-lying areas of four northern districts including Rangpur may be flooded as river levels rise, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) warned on Thursday, 17 September.

A low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Andaman Sea and the adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal within 48 hours, the BWDB said. According to the meteorological agencies, moderate to moderately heavy rain is forecast over the next three days in the north and north-east of the country and the adjoining upstream catchments.

Over the past 24 hours the Brahmaputra held steady. The Jamuna fell and may stay steady for three days before rising over the following two; the Ganges-Padma rivers fell and may keep falling for five days. In the north-east, the Surma-Kushiyara rivers fell and may continue to do so for three days.

In the north, the Teesta and Dudhkumar rose while the Dharla fell. The Teesta may keep rising for three days, and the Dharla and Dudhkumar may hold steady over the same period.

On that basis, the Teesta may flow at warning level at places in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram districts within the next 24 to 72 hours, and low-lying areas beside the river may be temporarily flooded in places.

Aman and early winter vegetables are standing on the Teesta chars now; even two or three days of temporary flooding can drown vegetables and seedbeds on low ground, so for growers in the four districts the warning is the cue to lift what can be lifted and move seed to safety.

Source: banglanews24