Big floods likely in Aug

The ongoing floods expanded into one-fourth of the country’s districts, continuing to increase the sufferings of affected people as the water level on the country’s major rivers continued to rise.
As floodwaters on major rivers including Jamuna and Padma continue to rise, Water Development Board forecast that Bangladesh is likely to see big floods in early August.
Disaster management and relief minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Saturday said that about 14.75 lakh people were affected by the floods at 16 districts.
The government has distributed about 13,000 tonnes of foods and cash Tk of 5.5 crore among the flood-hit people, he said, adding that 70 medical teams were also working in different flood-hit districts.
A total of 14 people have been so far killed by floodwater at four districts – Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Jamalpur in July, said an official of disaster management and relief ministry.
According to WDB hydrographic report on monsoon, the floodwater flow at Bahadurabad on Jamuna River was flowing above 20.6 meters, matching the highest peak recorded on August 30 in 1988, while the water flow at Harding-RB point on Padma river remained on a rising trend.
Such increasing water-flows on Jamuna and Padma and excessive on-rush water from India are likely to prolong floods and also cause big floods in Bangladesh, an official said.
When asked, executive engineer at Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre Md Sazzad Hossain told New Age that big flood in the country during the month of August was ‘usual’.
He, however, said that flood situation in some northern districts started improving on Saturday.
According to Flood Forecast and Warning Center, the water level on the Padma river might rise in the next 48 hours, which might cause slight deterioration of the flood situation in low lands adjacent to Rajbari, Manikganj, Munshiganj and Sariatpur districts.
The flood situation in Sirajganj was in a steady state and likely to start improving during the next 24 hours, the FFWC outlook said.
However, the FFWC said that the flood situation has started improving in low lands adjacent to Brahmaputra and Jamuna Rivers at Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogra and Dharla river at Kurigram.
A special forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department said on Saturday that heavy rains were very likely in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland states within a day or two.
The flood situation in Assam has deteriorated since 25 July, when 600,000 people were affected, Indian media reported on July 27.
New Age Correspondent in Pabna reported that floodwater entered into different villages of five unions of the district as the water level on the mighty river Jamuna was rising fast at several points, leaving several thousands of people inundated.
The most badly affected villages include Rakhalgachhi, Panpara, Char Latifpur under Dhalarchar union; Mohanganj, Panchakola, Nayanpur, Haripur, Maskhali, Raksha, Loylapara under Bherenga union of the Bera upazila.
Flood affected people said at least 1,500 handlooms and power looms of the areas were damaged as flood water entered those unions in the last three days.
New Age correspondent in Jamalpur reported that though the water level of the Jamuna fell slightly, the river was following 117cm above the danger mark at Bahadurabad ghat point as of Saturday afternoon, leaving the worsening flood situation in the district unchanged.
The highest water level of 121cm over the danger mark was recorded Friday afternoon at Jamalpur, breaking the record of the 1988 flood which reached 112cm above the danger mark, said Nabakumar Choudhury, executive engineer of WDB.
Around four lakh people in all seven upazilas of the district have been affected, said sources in the district administration.
Rail communication on Jamalpur-Dewanganj route remained suspended since Friday afternoon as the rail track went under water, said Jahurul Islam, station master of Jamalpur railway station.
Around 12,773 hectares land full of crops in six upazilas of the district was inundated, said Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension.
New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported the flood situation deteriorated in Manikganj as water in the river Jamuna is flowing 54 cm above the danger level at Aricha point, growing 10 cm in the last 24 hours.
The low-lying areas of the district went under water. Thousands of people of Daulatdia, Shivalaya and Harirampur have been left marooned. They face acute drinking water crisis as most of the tube wells of the areas are now under flood water.
Ferry movement on Paturia –Daulatdia river route might stop anytime as two landing stations at the Daulatdia terminal was washed away by the river and the two others are also under threat of erosion by the Padma, said Shafikul Islam, manager (commerce) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Daulatdia office.
New Age correspondent in Munshiganj reported that thousands of people at 40 villages were left marooned by floodwater at areas adjacent to Padma river.
New Age correspondent in Shariatpur reported that more than one lakh people in different upazilas of the district have been left marooned by floodwater.
Shariatpur deputy commissioner Mahmudul Hossain Khan said that all upazila nirbahi officers were asked to visit the flood-affected areas and prepare a list of the victims.
The overall flood situation in Kurigram and Faridpur worsened further.
In Kurigram, more than six lakh people have been left marooned as fresh areas were submerged.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net