The Ganges-Padma within hours after the meteorological department forecast of normal flooding in the country’s northwest tore through the flood barriers of Rajshahi City on Monday night, flowing above the danger level in 10 years have flooded low lying areas in the city.
The rising river, joined by another river in spate, the Mahananda also flooded low lying areas of the north western town of Chapai Nawabganj.
The floods are said to be normal by the meteorologists and flood forecasting and warning centre officials as the Ganges-Padma goes in spate in the first week of August.
But it has taken a month to jump over its banks as the August had six percent less than average rainfall, met office sources said.
But now the river already swollen by heavy rains in the upstream in the Himalayas started going in spate along with the Jamuna and the Mahanada poses serious threats along their banks for breaching their flood barriers and intensifying the erosion along their banks and continue their rising trend in next 72 hours, the flood control and warning centre said on Tuesday evening.
Already the Padma has devoured homes and shops and threatened the Mawa-Kewrakandi ferry terminal areas with erosion with surges in water as the river goes downstream in swift, swirling and fast currents, gnawing at its banks, taking down everything on its way.
Low lying areas of Rajshahi city and surrounding upazilas have been inaundated. Already water entered into the low lying city areas of Zia Nagar, Sree Rampur, Talaimarai and Panchabati and the city embankment along the river protecting Rajshahi Metropolitan city is under threat of being eroded.
According to Water Development Board sources in Rajshahi, the water level of the river Padma was 18.51 meter which is .01 meter above the danger level of 18.50m near Rajshahi. Earlier, the Padma crossed the danger mark in 2003.
Harun-ur-Rashid, Executive Engineer of WDB, Rajshahi said, the water level of the river Padma is continually rising and they are working on to tame the furious river, maintaining the vigil round the clock along its embankment. He said,all char areas on the river have been inundated, posing an acute crisis of dumping-sand, which is being carried from a long distance. Yet WBD officials and employees were taking action to dump sand bags on the vulnerable points of the embankment. Several hundred villages of Godagari, Bagha and Charghat upazilas have been inaundated by flood water. Even people living at the low lying areas of Alupatty, Pacnhabati, Panchani Math, Zia Nagar and Sreerampur have abandoned their homes as water entered there forcing them to take shelter on the embankments or on the ‘Manchas’ or high grounds.
Flood affected people of city areas said, their suffering increased but neither the government nor any NGO have came forward to help them with any relief.
Meanwhile, Mayor(in charge) of Rajshahi City Corporation Shariful Islam has called upon the well off people to stand beside the flood affected people with relief materials like pure drinking water, baby foods and medicine.
Newly elected Mayor Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul has also termed the flood situation of Rajshahi a catastrophe and called upon all abled people to stand beside the affected people.
Fazley Hossain Badsha, Member of Parliament of Rajshahi sadar constituency has expressed his worry at the continuing rise of water levels of Padma and assured all assistance from his side to help the flood affected people.
Former Mayors of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Mijanur Rahman Minu have also expressed their worry at the deteriorating flood situation and called upon the government, NGOs and well off people to stand beside the flood affected people.
-With The Independent input
