Heavy rain: Flash floods in Ctg, six other districts likely

Flash floods in Chattogram. File photo

Flash floods are likely to hit seven districts--Feni, Chattogram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Sherpur, Netrakona and Mymensingh--as major rivers continue swelling due to heavy to very heavy rainfall in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions of Bangladesh, as well as in upstream regions of India’s Tripura and Assam states.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board came up with the warning on Wednesday.

According to the FFWC, water levels in the Gomti, Muhuri, Selonia and Feni rivers in Chattogram division have risen over the past 24 hours and are expected to keep increasing over the next three days.

The Muhuri and Selonia rivers may flow above the danger level in Feni, causing short-term flooding in adjacent low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, the Feni River may reach the warning level in Chattogram district, leading to temporary inundation of low-lying zones.

In Rangpur division, water levels in the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers have fallen during the last 24 hours, while the Teesta has remained stable.

However, all three may rise again within the next three days. During this time, the Teesta may reach the warning level, temporarily flooding low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.

In Mymensingh division, the Kangsha River has receded slightly in the past 24 hours, while the Someshwari and Bhugai rivers have remained steady.

These rivers are likely to swell in the next three days, with the Someshwari, Bhugai and Kangsha rivers potentially flowing at warning level in Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrakona districts, causing temporary inundation of surrounding low-lying areas.

The FFWC also noted that coastal rivers in Barishal, Khulna and Chattogram divisions are experiencing higher-than-normal tides, a situation expected to persist for the next three days.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that a well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay. It is likely to cross the south Odisha–north Andhra Pradesh coast within the next 48 hours.

During the last 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions, as well as in upstream areas of Tripura and Assam. Similar conditions are likely to prevail across Bangladesh and adjoining upstream regions of India in the next three days, from 9 am Wednesday until October 4 (Saturday). - UNB