STAR REPORT

Over 100,000 people have been stranded as the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers swelled above danger level, flooding vast areas of cropland, homes and low-lying regions in northern Bangladesh.

In Nilphamari alone, around 10,000 families in two upazilas have been marooned, with large tracts of Aman paddy, vegetables and homesteads submerged, said Amitav Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board (BWDB). Heavy rainfall and hill torrents from upstream India, which opened all gates of the Gojaldoba Barrage, sent a surge of water through the Teesta, he added.

According to the BWDB in Dalia, the Teesta was flowing at 52.30 metres at 9:00am yesterday, 15 centimetres above the danger mark of 52.15 metres, up from 11 centimetres above just three hours earlier. On Wednesday, the river was 7 centimetres above danger level.

Zahangir Alam, chairman of Khagakharibari union parishad, said 80 families from a shoal attached to Pagolpara had moved to safer ground in the past 24 hours, with more preparing to leave as floodwater swept into their homes. They are in urgent need of drinking water and food, he added.

Hafizur Rahman, acting chairman of Purbo Satnai Union, reported that 1,500 families in his union had been affected.

In Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are also flowing above danger level, flooding extensive char and riverside areas.

SEE PAGE 9 COL 3