Shawdesh desk:

The moderate-to-heavy rain in the southwestern and south-central coastal regions may worsen the ongoing flood situation in the country.

“According to the numerical model of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, there is a chance to have moderate to heavy rainfall in the south-western and south-central coastal regions. Rivers may rise rapidly during this time,” said the latest flood situation bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) on Friday.

“The well-marked low over Bihar-Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining area now lies over central Madhya Pradesh of India and adjoining areas. The axis of monsoon runs through Rajastan, the centre of the well-marked low, Bihar, Gangetic west Bengal to Assam across the central part of Bangladesh,” forecasted Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

It also forecasted that light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions; at many places over Dhaka, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to heavy rainfall at places over the country. Flooding across Bangladesh could worsen slightly due to heavy rain across North Bengal and NE India.

Lowlands of southern Bangladesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Central India and (North+Coastal) Myanmar could also have a temporarily flooding risk.

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

Meanwhile, the displaced people started returning home following further improvements in the flood situation at many places on the day.

In the wake of the improvement of flood situation, marooned people returned home, but they have to live under the open sky as their dwellings were washed away by floodwaters. They also face huge losses as their croplands have also been washed away.

Now, they are seeking assistance to erect their houses and plant crops again in the land.Water level in many of the rivers in Ganges basin has been swelling continuously for the last couple of days because of the onrush of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas caused by the heavy downpour.

Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has further recorded a surging trend at most of the rivers like Ganges at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria and Padma at Goalunda and most of its downstream rivers and tributaries this morning.                Water level in the Ganges River went up by 5 centimeter (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, 2cm at Rajshahi and 4cm each at Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points in the past 24 hours ending at 9am yesterday.

However, the Ganges River was flowing at 169cm, 185cm, 106cm and 78cm below the danger levels at Pankha, Rajshahi, Hardinge Bridge and Talbaria points respectively while water level in the Padma River went up by 3cm afresh at Goalundo point and the river was flowing at 29cm above the danger level at the point yesterday morning.

On the other hand, the local BWDB office has recorded a further falling trend at all the three points of the Jamuna River yesterday. The water level declined by 3cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 4cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 1cm at Sirajganj points.