Flood warning issued for five districts

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall in the eastern, south-eastern and north-eastern parts of the country over the next week could cause rivers to cross danger levels and trigger short-term floods in parts of Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari within the next five days.

In a special bulletin issued on Sunday, July 5, Executive Engineer Sardar Uday Rayhan of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said rainfall of 100 to 150 millimetres, or even more, is possible in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Chattogram divisions and the adjoining Meghalaya, Assam, Barak basin, Tripura and Myanmar hilly and coastal areas from July 5 to July 12. Total rainfall in some places could reach 350 to 500 millimetres.

A monsoon low-pressure system over the north-west Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Odisha-West Bengal coast may further increase rainfall activity in the eastern parts of the country, the bulletin said.

The Gomti, Muhuri, Feni, Selonia, Halda, Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers may rise rapidly between July 5 and 10, flowing above danger levels in parts of Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari, causing short-term floods in low-lying areas along the rivers. Low-lying areas along rivers in Lakshmipur and Noakhali may also be temporarily flooded.

Rivers in the north-eastern region may also rise rapidly, with water levels in several rivers in Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions likely to touch warning levels between July 8 and 10, causing temporary waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas along rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrokona, Sherpur and Mymensingh.

The Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division are currently flowing below danger levels and may fall over the next two days, but could rise again between July 8 and 10.