Hill water from upstream and continuous rain are pushing up the Teesta in Lalmonirhat at an alarming rate. At noon on Sunday (21 June), the river was recorded flowing just 15 centimetres below the danger level at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage.

With the water near the danger level since Saturday (20 June), there are strong fears of flooding in low-lying areas downstream of the barrage.

As the water keeps rising, vast chars along the Teesta have already begun to go under. Water has also started entering homes and farmland in low-lying riverside areas. However, since there are no significant seasonal crops in the fields at present, farmers are not expected to suffer major financial losses.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said rivers in the north could rise further and approach the danger level over the next 72 hours because of upstream flow and heavy rain, with a chance of minor flooding.

The Lalmonirhat Water Development Board is fully prepared to deal with any disaster.

Describing the situation, Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said floods on the Teesta and Dharla are mainly caused by upstream flow and heavy rain. Since Saturday the Teesta has been flowing 15 centimetres below the danger level, with the level fluctuating because of rain.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, heavy rain is likely within the next 72 hours, which could push the Teesta above the danger level and cause flooding, he said. "We are keeping round-the-clock watch on vulnerable areas of the Dharla and Teesta and remain on alert."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.