Flood fears loom for more low-lying areas as upstream deluge intensifies

Highlights

• Six rivers flowing above danger level at 10 stations
• Heavy rain may trigger fresh flooding within 72 hours
• Teesta could cross danger level in next 48 hours
• At least 25 villages inundated after Khowai embankment breach
• Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway traffic disrupted by floodwaters

Flood conditions persisted across southeastern, northeastern and northern Bangladesh today (10 July) as heavy upstream rainfall and a low-pressure system over the northwestern Bay of Bengal continued to push river levels higher, prompting warnings of fresh inundation in several districts.

According to a special flood outlook issued by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) at 6pm yesterday, six rivers were flowing above the danger level at 10 monitoring stations across Bandarban, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj.

The Khowai River at Balla in Habiganj recorded the highest level, flowing 192 centimetres above the danger mark. Water levels were also 164cm above the danger level on the Matamuhuri River at Lama, 140cm on the Khowai River at Habiganj and 105cm on the Sangu River at Bandarban.

The Monu River remained 73cm and 69cm above the danger level at two monitoring stations, while the Matamuhuri at Chiringa, Kushiyara at Markuli, Dhalai at Kalmakanda and Sangu at Dohazari were also flowing above their respective danger marks.

The FFWC said exceptionally heavy rainfall over the past three days had affected Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions, as well as India’s Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

During the period, Chattogram recorded 815mm of rainfall, Lama 518mm and Cox’s Bazar 330mm. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to continue across these regions over the next two days.

The centre forecast up to 350mm of rainfall in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar over the next three days, while Chattogram, Feni, Lakshmipur and Noakhali could receive between 250mm and 300mm. Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram are expected to receive 100mm to 150mm of rain.

River data from upstream India also indicated rising water levels. Significant increases were recorded on the Khowai and Kailashahar rivers in Tripura over the past 24 hours, accelerating water level rises in the Khowai and Monu rivers in Bangladesh. Water levels on the Teesta at Domohani in West Bengal also increased, with the FFWC warning that the river could reach or exceed the danger level within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The centre said flooding in the Sangu and Matamuhuri river basins in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar was likely to persist for another 24 to 48 hours. While flood conditions on the Khowai, Monu and Dhalai rivers in Habiganj and Moulvibazar are expected to remain stable, water levels on several rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur and Mymensingh may continue rising.

It also warned of short-term flooding along the Muhuri, Feni, Silonia and Halda rivers in parts of Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari, as well as low-lying areas along the Teesta basin.

Meanwhile, at least 25 villages in Habiganj were inundated after an embankment on the Khowai River collapsed under pressure from continuous rainfall and upstream hill runoff.

The breach occurred around 10pm yesterday in the Kaliganj-Charhamua area of Habiganj Sadar upazila, allowing floodwaters to rapidly enter nearby villages. Water levels continued to rise today, submerging large low-lying areas and leaving hundreds of families stranded.

Floodwaters entered homes, submerged several earthen roads and raised fears of extensive damage to agricultural land. Traffic on the Habiganj–Mirpur regional road has also remained suspended after sections of the road went underwater.

In Chattogram, heavy rain and hill runoff inundated vast areas of the southern region. Water accumulated on sections of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway in the Hashimpur and Dohazari Bottola areas of Chandanaish upazila, disrupting traffic.