Obaydul Islam Robi, Rajshahi

Due to heavy rains in India’s West Bengal, the water level of Padma River has started rising in Rajshahi. At risk of flooding has increased in the areas along the river. Locals have feared fresh floods in the region.

The locals on the banks of the river said that there is a danger of new floods if the water of Padma in this region increases gradually On Saturday.

According to the information of the Water Development Board, the water level of Padma was 16.54 cm on August 17. Since then the water in the river started to recede a bit and continued to recede till August 22 last. But the water started rising again on Friday.

However, the water level of Padma was 16.23 cm at 3 pm. It has grown 4 cm in the last 24 hours. Due to which the locals fear new floods. At present, the water of Padma is flowing 2.21 cm below the flood line. The depth of Padma River in this area is estimated to be 18.05 cm. After crossing once in 2013, the water of Padma has not crossed at danger again. Enamul Haque, gauge reader of Rajshahi Water Development Board said that due to heavy rains in West Bengal, the water level of Padma river has increased. Padma water is unlikely to cross the Vipatsima in the next week. The width of Padma is fixed at 18.05 meters.

The danger level of Mahananda River among the big rivers of Rajshahi region was 20.55 meters Last August 23. At Chapainawabganj point, the water level of this river was 18.50 meters at 6 pm and it was 18.46 meters at 6 am. On the other hand, the danger level of Punarbhava river is 21.55 meters. The River water level also increased 4 cm in 12 hours on Friday. The water level at Rahanpur point in Chapainawabganj was 18.58 meters at 6 in the evening.

Atrai river water has also increased in the same way. The water level of Atrai River at Singra Point in Natore was 10.81 meters at 6 pm. The danger level of this river is 12.20 meters. Which is 1.39 meters below the danger level. And the danger level of Barnai River is 13.96 meters. The water level of this river was 12.30 meters on Friday evening. Which is 1.66 meters below the danger limit.

Due to the heavy rain upstream, the water level of the river has increased due to the heavy rain water coming down in city, Paba, Charghat and Bagha upazilas of Rajshahi. Besides, the canals of Brenda region are overflowing with water. Roads and culverts (bridges) were washed away. In particular, many creeks in Rajshahi’s Tanor upazila have overflowed and the surrounding fields have been flooded, said an official of the Water Development Board.