Continuous heavy rainfall triggered by a deep low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has raised the risk of short-term flooding in low-lying areas across seven districts in Bangladesh, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
In a bulletin issued Thursday, the FFWC warned that rising water levels in several rivers, caused by the persistent rainfall, pose flood threats in Chattogram, Feni, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari districts.
The deep low-pressure system, initially formed in the west-central and north-western Bay of Bengal, has moved inland and currently remains stationary after crossing India’s Odisha coast on Thursday evening. The system has intensified into a land-based depression, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Bangladesh.
Due to the low pressure, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in the last 24 hours in Barishal, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions. Among them, 119 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Barishal, 78 millimeters in Dalia of Nilphamari, and 50 millimeters in Jamalpur.
However, very heavy rainfall was not recorded in the upper reaches of India. Over the next two days, heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur sporadically in some parts of Bangladesh and the upper reaches of India.
The department has reported that water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division may rise over the next three days. During this period, the water level of the Teesta river may reach alert levels, which could cause flooding in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.
Similarly, water levels in the Someshwari, Bhogai, and Kangsha rivers in Mymensingh division may rise over the next three days, putting low-lying areas of Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona at risk of flooding.
Coastal rivers in Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions are also currently experiencing higher tides than usual, which may continue for the next two days.
In the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system, water levels may initially decrease slightly but are expected to rise again over the next four days. However, the water levels are forecast to remain below danger levels.
Water levels in the Ganga-Padma rivers may decrease over the next two days and then rise again over the following three days. Water levels in the Surma-Kushiara rivers may rise over the next three days.
Water levels in the Atrai, Punarbhaba, Kartoa, Jamuneswari, Mahananda, Ghaghat, Kartoa, and Tangon rivers in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions may also increase over the next three days.
Water levels in the Manu, Khoyai, Dhalai, Sarigaoin, and Jadukata rivers in Sylhet may rise over the next two days and stabilize on the third day.
However, water levels in the Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers in Chattogram may rise over the next two days and then decrease on the third day.
Due to the low pressure, the Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra sea ports have been advised to display local warning signal number 3. All fishing boats and trawlers currently at sea in the Bay of Bengal have been instructed to remain in safe shelter until further notice.
