Lalmonirhat: Water Development Board (WDB) has issued a red alert in the Teesta Barrage area, the country's largest irrigation project. The Teesta Barrage is under threat due to the rapid onrush of water from India. It appears that all gates of Gozaldoba in Assam has been opened making the onrush of water which remains closed during dry season. A flat bypass could be cut at any moment to protect the barrage, WDB said.
Rabiaul Islam, Dalia's executive engineer at Teesta Barrage, confirmed the information around 9 pm on Sunday (July 12).
He said the Teesta water flow was recorded at Dahlia Point of Teesta Barrage at 9 pm at 53.10 meters which (normal 52.60 m.) is flowing 50 cm of over danger level. Earlier, the Teesta water started receding at 10 am but started rising at 12 noon. That is why people on the banks of the Teesta were being asked through miking to move to safer places.
Meanwhile, the officials of the Water Development Board have opened all the gates of the Teesta Barrage but the pressure and speed of water is not being controlled. As a result, there is panic among the people on the banks of the Teesta. If the flat bypass is cut, the flood situation in 5 upazilas including Lalmonirhat will become more dire. Besides, water is flowing over the Hatibandha-Barakhata bypass road. As a result, the paved road can be broken at any time.
According to the locals, the chars and low-lying areas of Teesta and Dharla basins of five upazilas of Lalmonirhat have been submerged due to heavy rains and onrush of uphill water. Children, the elderly and the disabled are at extreme risk due to the sudden rise in water. Due to the thick water around the farmers and cultivators of the char area are in a lot of trouble with their livestock.
Dahagram of Patgram upazila, Saniajan of Hatibandha, Gaddimari, Sindurna, Patikapara, Votmari of Kaliganj upazila, Mahishkhocha of Naditmari upazila, Khuniaghat of Sadar upazila and Rajpur, Gokunda, Kulaghat and Mogulhat union’s charland of Teesta and Dharla have been inundated. As a result, about 30,000 families in these unions have become marooned.
Bridges, culverts and flood control embankments along the Teesta are under threat due to increased water flow. Hundreds of pond fish are floating. Farmers' crops including nuts, maize and vegetables have been destroyed.
Marooned people in the char areas are facing problems of baby food and safe water. The families complained that despite the water blockade for three days, no relief or dry food has reached from the government yet.
Nurul Amin, in-charge of the flood forecasting and warning center at Dalia Point on the Teesta Barrage told Barta24.com that water have been flowing over 50 centimeters above danger level since noon. People on the shore have already been asked to move through miking to get to safety. It is not possible to say when the water will recede.