Teesta water rises, over 1,000 families affected in Lalmonirhat

Hundreds of houses along the Teesta river bank in Lalmonirhat have been flooded as the water level rose by 5 cm in the last 12 hours due to incessant rain and water from the upstream.

It was flowing 20 cm below the danger level at Teesta Barrage Point in Doani area of Hatibandha upazila around 2:00pm today, our Lalmonirhat correspondent reports quoting Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer of the district's Water Development Board.

The executive engineer said although the water is flowing below the danger level, the houses went under water due to accumulation of silt.

Photo: Star

The problem could be alleviated by dredging Teesta and ensuring water flow through one channel, he said.

More than 1,000 families living in the low-lying villages and char areas of Teesta River basin in 18 unions of five upazilas of the district have been sufferings due to knee-deep water inside their houses, the correspondent reports.

Aklas Miah (65), a farmer from Gaddimari village in Hatibandha upazila, told The Daily Star that water of the river Teesta overflows if the water level rises a little as the river bed has filled up with silt.

Water entered his house two days back and it is not receding, he said.

Elias Hossain (62), a farmer from Chouraha village in Aditmari upazila, said that Teesta water flooded their houses. The river water did not rise much due to the rains. It has increased due to the rush of water from the upstream in India, he said.

As roads in the village have been submerged, the residents in the area are unable to move, he said.

Water level of 26 rivers, including Dharla in Lalmonirhat and Brahmaputra and Dudhkumar in Kurigram was flowing below the danger level today.