Floods likely in north, northeastern regions next week

Weather forecasters on Wednesday predicted more rains in the upstream over the next week and inside Bangladesh in the next two days.
Floods have been forecast for the north and the northeastern regions of Bangladesh at the outset of the next week by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
Incessant rains since Monday caused untold sufferings to urban populations, including in the capital.
Parts of the Chittagong district have already been submerged by flood waters. 
On Wednesday, the Halda River at Narayanhat in Chittagong flowed 40 cm above the danger level while Surma and Khowai rivers in Sylhet flowed less than a metre below their danger marks. 
‘Major rivers in north and northeastern regions are likely to rise rapidly over the weekend causing floods in the next week,’ said FFWC executive engineer Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan.
The rivers that are likely to overflow include Teesta, Dharla, Surma, Kushiyara, Manu and Khowai. 
The FFWC in its forecast said that fresh areas in Chittagong, Feni, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazaar districts may go under water due to rise in waters in the Feni River, Muhuri, Halda, Sangu and Matamuhuri over the next 24 hours.
In 24 hours ending at 9:00 am Wednesday Cox’s Bazaar received country’s highest rainfall of 228 mm, according to the FFWC. At least six other south eastern districts saw rainfalls up to 192 mm during the same time.
The flood monitoring stations of FFWC recorded swelling of most of the major rivers till Wednesday afternoon.
The Indian Meteorological Department forecasted heavy to very heavy rains in the upstream till July 29.
‘The rain is likely to continue for a few more days,’ said weather forecaster Abul Kalam Mallik.
On Wednesday, in six hours from 6:00 am, the Met Office recorded 28 mm rainfall at its headquarters at Agargaon in Dhaka. 
Low lying areas in the capital remained submerged following incessant rains since Monday.
The road from Mirpur-10 to Kazipara was under waist-deep water. 
‘I felt like crossing a river,’ said Sajib of Mirpur sharing his experience of travelling to office at Bangla Motor Wednesday morning.
People living in areas where roads have been dug suffered more as submerged potholes overturned rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and small cars.
Pedestrians tumbled and found reaching destinations difficult if not impossible.
Reaching places of work and retuning home at the end of the day took inordinately longer time.
Shortage of public transports on the roads told upon the patience of many drenched commuters.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net