Floods hit four districts in the north

Floods have struck four northern districts -- Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, and Kurigram -- as the Teesta river rose above the danger mark following heavy rain and onrush of upstream water.

Over 150 chars and low-lying areas have been submerged since Sunday night, with vast tracts of Aman paddy and vegetable fields inundated.

At 10:00pm on Sunday, the Teesta was flowing 35cm above the danger level at the Teesta Barrage point in Doani of Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila, prompting the Water Development Board (WDB) to issue a red alert and warn residents through loudspeakers.

Although water began to recede slightly by dawn yesterday, it remained above the danger level, measured at 52.25 metres -- 10cm higher than the danger mark.

Amitav Chowdhury, executive engineer of Dalia WDB, said, "As the water level rose sharply on Sunday night, we evacuated people from risky areas. Had it not receded by dawn, we might have cut the bypass road to protect the barrage. All 44 gates of the barrage are open."

Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Shunil Kumar said, "Water has slightly dropped at the barrage but is rising downstream. Around one lakh people are marooned along the Teesta shoal areas. Flood control embankments are under threat, although no major damage has occurred yet."

Kurigram WDB Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said that although flooding hit the Teesta basin, water levels in the Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, Dharla, Ghaghat, Jinjiram, and Kaljani rivers were still below danger levels.

Solaiman Ali, 65, of Char Gobordhan in Aditmari, said, "Waist-deep water entered our home since Sunday night. My eight bighas of Aman are under water."

Shahidur Rahman, 60, of Doani, said they rushed to shelters with cattle and furniture after WDB warnings.

Majibur Rahman, 70, of Goddimari, said six bighas of Aman and one of vegetables were flooded.

Similar accounts came from Mobarok Hossain, 60, a resident of Char Mohipur in Rangpur's Gangachara.

Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Rangpur regional Department of Agricultural Extension, said officials are assessing crop damage. "Vegetables are at risk, although Aman can survive waterlogging for a few days."

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner HM Raqib Hayder said evacuations were carried out on Sunday night and relief, including dry food, is being distributed.

In Kurigram's Nageshwari, timber trader Mansur Ali, 45, of Khamar Nokula village, went missing yesterday after being swept away by the Dudhkumar's strong current while collecting floating logs.

Police and locals said logs floated downstream from India due to hill torrents. Despite rescue efforts by a fire service team with divers, he remained missing as of 6:00pm.