More areas flooded as Padma, Jamuna swell

Fresh areas of the country are being inundated as two major rivers -- Padma and Jamuna -- continue to swell due to a combination of onrush of water from upstream and heavy downpours.

Low-lying areas of at least two districts -- Faridpur and Tangail -- have been submerged. Vast tracts of cropland have gone under water while houses and roads have become inundated, causing much hardship for people in the affected areas.

Officials of Water Development Board (WDB), however, have ruled out any chances of long-term flooding.

Meanwhile, a bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) yesterday forecast that the water level in all major rivers, except the Surma, were rising.

The 24-hour forecast was released at 9:00am yesterday.

"The flood situation in low-lying areas of Rajbari and Faridpur districts may deteriorate," it said. "The Teesta river may rise and remain close to the danger level at Dalia [in Nilphamari] point."

Our correspondents from different districts yesterday reported on the flood situation.

In Faridpur, some 3,000 families of 25 villages in Sadar upazila were marooned because of floodwater from the Padma.

The river was flowing 16cm above the danger level at Goalanda Ghat Point in Rajbari yesterday morning, according to WDB officials.

"We are going through untold suffering as most roads of our area have been submerged," said Abdul Rajjak Sheikh, 32, of Mujaffar Dangi village in Faridpur Sadar upazila.

A farmer, Jalal Sheikh, 52, of Taijuddin Mollar Dangi village in the same upazila, said, "I cultivated Aush paddy on around 1.5 bighas of land, but I was forced to cut all of my crop before it reached maturity as floodwater entered the land."

Juleka Begum, 41, a homemaker of Sultankhar Dangi village in Sadar upazila, said, "Water is increasing rapidly in our area. Our toilet has gone under water -- we are facing immense hardship."

The local administration has arranged relief for the flood-hit people, said Masum Raza, Sadar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO).

In Tangail, low-lying areas have gone under water as water level of Jamuna, Dhaleshwari river and a few other branches of the Jamuna continued to rise.

Besides, river erosion has impacted different places in Sadar, Bhuanpur, Kalihati and Nagarpur upazilas. Many people were seen relocating because of it.

The water level of the Jamuna has risen by 23cm in 24 hours preceding 6:00am yesterday, although it was still below the danger mark, said WDB officials.

Contacted, Sirajul Islam, executive engineer of WDB in Tangail, said the Jamuna may continue rising for the next two or three days, but there is no possibility of flood in the mainland.

Besides, necessary measures have already been taken to check river erosion, he added.

In Sirajganj, the water level of Jamuna has increased, but WDB officials ruled out any chances of flooding.

"Water levels have been rising since August 13 -- increasing by 25cm to 30cm each day. The water level is expected to rise further in the next two or three days," said Md Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj WDB.

But the water level is still below the danger level, he added.

The onrush from upstream combined with heavy downpour has caused a quick rise in the water level of the Jamuna, Nasir said, adding that despite the rise, there is no immediate fear of flooding.

[Our correspondents in Faridpur, Tangail and Sirajganj contributed to this report.]