Shawdesh Desk:

The rising trend of major rivers in the Ganges basin has been lingering the flood situation in some districts on the river basin on Wednesday.

At least four people have died in 24 hours until Tuesday pushing the death toll to 226 in flood that set in during the last week of June.

A daily bulletin of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed that three people died in Manikganj and one in Kishoreganj during the ongoing flood.

Among the total dead, 37 died in Tangail, 32 in Jamalpur, 23 in Manikganj and Kurigram, 17 Lalmonirhat, 15 in Gaibandha and Sirajganj, 11 in Kishoreganj, nine in Dhaka, eight in Sunamganj, seven in Netrakona, six in Munshiganj and Gazipur, three in Shariatpur, Rajbari, and Rangpur, two in Gopalganj, Naogaon, Sunamganj, Nilphamari, one in Faridpur and Bogura, according to DGHS.

“The Ganges River is in rising trend while the Padma River is in steady state, which may remain such in the next 24 hours,” said Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

“The flood situation in low-lying lands of Manikganj, Rajbari and Faridpur districts may remain steady in next 24 hours,” he said.

“According to the numerical model of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, there is a chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall in south-western and south-central coastal regions of the country in next 24 hours. Rivers in this region may rise rapidly during this time.”

The rise in water level in many of the rivers in Ganges basin continues for the third consecutive day yesterday due to onrush of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas caused by heavy downpour.

Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has further recorded a rising trend at most of the rivers like Mohananda in Chapainawabganj and Ganges at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria and Padma at Goalunda and other downstream rivers this morning.

Water level in the Ganges River went up by 14 centimeter (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 7cm at Rajshahi, 4cm at Hardinge Bridge and 11cm at Talbaria points in the past 24 hours ending at 9am yesterday.

The Ganges River was flowing at 178cm, 194cm, 121cm and 96cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively while water level in the Padma River went up by 4cm at Goalundo point and the river was flowing 17cm above the danger level.

Water level of Korotoa River further declined by 23cm and 22cm at Chak Rahimpur and at Bogura points respectively and the river was flowing at 219cm and 304cm below the danger level at the two points respectively this morning.

On the other hand, local BWDB office has recorded a further rising trend of water at two points of Jamuna River.

The water level increased by 4cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 2cm at Sirajganj points, while remained stable at Sariakandi in Bogura point.

Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said the Jamuna was flowing 5cm above the danger level at Sariakandi point, while the river was still flowing at 4cm and 2cm below the danger level at Kazipur and at Sirajganj points respectively.

Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, being monitored in many districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels went up at seven points, while it declined at seven points and remained stable at two points this morning.

However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 14 points, while above the danger mark at two points during the period.

The Department of Health has undertaken all possible measures to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases among the affected people amid recession of the floodwater.