Heavy rainfall and upstream inflows have raised the risk of short-term flooding in 10 districts across Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions over the next 24 to 48 hours, the Bangladesh Water Development Board's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said on Wednesday.
According to the latest flood forecast, rising water levels in several major rivers could push parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona into temporary flood conditions.
The FFWC said water levels in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers increased over the past 24 hours and are expected to continue rising for the next two days before stabilising. As a result, the rivers may flow above danger level at some points in Sylhet and Sunamganj, inundating adjacent low-lying areas.
In northern of the country, the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers also recorded rising water levels. The FFWC forecast further increases over the next day before the rivers stabilise and begin receding. Water in the Teesta and Dudhkumar may cross danger levels at some locations, triggering short-term flooding in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha.
In the Mymensingh region, water levels in the Someshwari and Bhugai rivers remained stable during the past day but are expected to rise over the next 24 hours. The Kangsha River is also likely to continue rising for the next two days. The centre warned that rivers in Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrokona could exceed danger levels at some locations, causing temporary flooding in nearby lowlands.
The forecast also said that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system are likely to continue rising over the next five days, while the Ganges-Padma system is expected to remain stable for two days before beginning to increase.
Meanwhile, rivers in the eastern and south-eastern regions, including the Gomti, Muhuri, Selonia, Feni and Halda, are also expected to rise over the next three days.
The warning came as the Teesta River at the Dalia point in Nilphamari and the Kushiyara River at Fenchuganj in Sylhet were already flowing above their respective danger levels on Wednesday following heavy rainfall and upstream runoff.
FP/A
