10 districts likely to face short-term floods in next 24-48 hours: FFWC

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) today warned that at least 10 districts are at the risk of short-term flooding over the next 24 to 48 hours due to heavy rainfall across the country and torrential rain in upstream areas of India.

According to the latest FFWC bulletin issued this afternoon, Dirai in Sunamganj recorded the country's highest rainfall in the last 24 hours at 402mm, while Cooch Behar in India's West Bengal received 254mm.

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Data from the FFWC and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) show that the 402mm rainfall is the highest single-day rainfall recorded in the country this year.

The FFWC forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rangpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Chattogram divisions, as well as adjoining upstream areas, over the next 24 hours.

Water levels have already crossed the danger level at two monitoring stations -- the Teesta river at Dalia point in Nilphamari and the Kushiyara tiver at Fenchuganj point in Sylhet, according to the FFWC.

The FFWC warned that flood risks remain over the next 24 hours, with river levels expected to swell above their danger marks across multiple river basins.

In the northeastern region, Sylhet and Sunamganj districts under the Surma-Kushiyara basin are at immediate risk of flooding.

In the northern region, districts along the Teesta and Dudhkumar river basins -- including Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha, low-lying areas are at risk of flooding within 24 hours.

Besides, low-lying areas in Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona districts along the Bhugai-Kangsha and Someshwari river basins are also projected to surpass danger thresholds in several places.

FFWC Executive Engineer Sarder Udoy Raihan told The Daily Star that, due to the extreme rainfall in the last 24 hours, at least 10 districts are at risk of flooding within the next 24 hours. Flooding in these areas are likely to improve in the next 72 hours.