Teesta
Red alert issued as Teesta flows 60 cm above danger level
The Water Development Board (WDB) has issued a red alert in the Teesta Basin after the river swelled above danger level due to onrush of water from upstream.
Teesta crossed 60 cm above danger level since Wednesday afternoon due to the onrush of hill water and heavy rainfall upstream in India. The authorities in Bangladesh have ordered an evacuation of the people living in villages along the river’s banks.
Extreme panic is prevailing among the residents of Teesta bank due to the sudden rise of Teesta water. In addition, flood fuses on the north side of the Teesta Barrage are reported to be under threat of getting damaged.
Due to the rise in Teesta, 15 villages of Purba Chhatnai, Tapa Kharibari, Khagakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach Chapani and Gayabari Union of Dimla upazila of Nilphamari and six villages of sandbar of Jaldhaka upazila have been flooded.
The residents of those areas have evacuated to safer places, said the people's representatives of those unions. Hundreds of hectares of crop land have been inundated.
READ: Teesta flowing above danger level, 44 barrage gates opened
Abdul Latif Khan, Purbachhatnai UP chairman of Dimla upazila in Nilphamari, said the right bank of the Teesta at Zero Point in the area and the Groen dam is under threat of getting damaged. Water is flowing especially over the Groen dam. If the Groen collapses, hundreds of houses in the area, including the dam on the right bank of the Teesta, will be washed away by the Teesta River.
Tepakharibari UP chairman Moinul Haque said the Teesta Bazar, Telirbazar, Dolapara and Charkharibari areas have already been submerged. All crop lands in the sandbars are under water.
In Lalmonirhat, the Barakhata to Hatibandha bypass road has collapsed at various places due to sudden rise in water level of Teesta river. As a result, thousands of families in this union have been marooned. Thousands of acres of crop land on the banks of Teesta in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat district have been submerged in water.
Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Abu Jafar said he has instructed the union chairmen and UNOs to look over the flood situation in these areas.
The Teesta river was flowing 52.70 cm above the danger level at Dalia point on Tuesday night while it was flowing 60 cm above the danger level around 10 am on Wednesday. This is due to the onrush of hill water and heavy rainfall, according to Board officials.
READ: Teesta turns turbulent in Kurigram; leaves 100 families homeless
The low-lying areas of Dahgram in Patgram upazila, Gaddimari, Singamari, Sinduna, Patikapara, Dauabari in Hatibandha upazila and Bhotmari, Soilmari, Nohli, Char Boirati in Kaliganj upazilas of Lalmonirhat district have been flooded, affecting some 10,000 families.
Asfaudoula, executive engineer of the Water Development Board at Dalia point, said “The Teesta water is flowing 60 cm above its danger mark and the authorities concerned have opened all the 44 gates of the barrage.”
Besides, the residents along the river have been asked to take shelter in safer places issuing red alert.
Teesta flowing above danger level, all 44 barrage gates opened
The Water Development Board (WDB) opened all the 44 gates of Teesta Barrage on Wednesday to rein in the high water pressure, with the river flowing 60 cm above the danger level.
According to Board officials, the Teesta river was flowing 52.70 cm above the danger level at Dalia point on Tuesday night while it was flowing 60 cm above the danger level around 10 am on Wednesday. This is due to the onrush of hill water and heavy rainfall.
The low-lying areas of Dahgram in Patgram upazila, Gaddimari, Singamari, Sinduna, Patikapara, Dauabari in Hatibandha upazila and Bhotmari, Soilmari, Nohli, Char Boirati in Kaliganj upazilas of the district have been flooded, affecting some 10,000 families.
READ: Teesta flowing above danger level, 44 barrage gates opened
Mafizar Rahman, UP member of Char Sinduna union in Hatibandha Upazila, said “We did not experienced any flash floods during the dry season and the river water had dried up in the past two months, but suddenly, the water level has risen, triggering flash floods.”
Maidul Islam of Patgram’s Dahgram area, said, “The river water has started to rise since Tuesday night, inundating the paddy fields, roads and dwelling houses, forcing many people to take shelter in high places.”
Asfaudoula, executive engineer of the Water Development Board at Dalia point, said l, “The Teesta water is flowing 60 cm above its danger mark and the authorities concerned have opened all the 44 gates of the barrage.”
READ: Teesta turns turbulent in Kurigram; leaves 100 families homeless
Besides, the residents along the river have been asked to take shelter in safer places.
Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner said that adequate measures have been taken for the flood-hit areas to help local residents.
Teesta flowing above danger level, 44 barrage gates opened
The Water Development Board (WDB) opened all the 44 gates of Teesta Barrage on Friday to rein in the high water pressure, with the river flowing 35cm above the danger level.
Around 11am on Friday, water flow in the barrage was recorded at 52.95 cm, said WDB officials.
"Due to heavy rains, most of the gates of Gajal Doba barrage on the Indian side were opened, which increased the water level of the Teesta and adjoining small rivers," said Executive Engineer Mizanur Rahman.
But the official said the water level may decrease by afternoon.
Also read: Teesta turns turbulent in Kurigram; leaves 100 families homeless
Flood-like situation triggered by the increased water level of the river is giving several residents of the district sleepless nights.
The worst-hit are around 3,000 families in Angarpota-Dahagram of Patgram upazila, Gaddimari, Singimari, Sinduna, Patikapara, Dauabari union sandbar area, Mahishkhocha union of Aditmari upazila, Rajpur of Sadar upazila, Khuniagach, Gokunda union and the Sandbar area of Kaliganj upazila.
Also read: Teesta flowing above danger level with India opening barrage gates
These families have demanded speedy implementation of the Teesta mega project as this is the fourth time this year that they have been hit.
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River erosion intensifies in Kurigram after flood
Although flood situation has improved in Kurigram and 16 rivers including Brahmaputra, Dharla and Teesta are flowing below the danger mark in the last few days, river erosion has taken a serious turn in the district.
Sardob, Mogholbasa and Nunkhawa flood control embankments were damaged due to erosion by the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla rivers in the last few days.
People waiting to see early signing of Teesta deal: Hasina
Dhaka, Oct 5 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday highlighted that the people of Bangladesh have been waiting to see the early signing and implementation of the framework of interim agreement for the sharing of Teesta waters as agreed upon by both governments in 2011.
People waiting for good news over Teesta: BNP to PM
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Overaged Teesta Rail Bridge turned dangerous
Lalmonirhat, Sept 23 (UNB) – Nearly 90 years past its expiry date, the Teesta Rail Bridge, connecting Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, continues to be in operation with its pitiable state.
The historic bridge, a shell of its former self, is crossed every day by 18 trains.
Built in 1834 by the Northern Bengal State Railway to connect Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, the 2,110 feet bridge was supposed to be in operation for 100 years.
It has been nearly two centuries since then but railway’s Lalmonirhat Divisional Manager Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman insisted that the bridge is not risky yet.