The current water level at the Teesta barrage has been set at above 50 cm of the danger level in the districts of Lalmonirhat and Nilpharamari.

The water at Lalmonirhat has been flowing 53.13 cm above danger level since Saturday (Jul 13) morning, said Water Development Board Deputy Assistant Engineer Aminur Rashid.

He added that the 44 sluice gates at the barrage have been opened but the water level continues to rise.

“There is definite danger since Teesta water level has increased. The flood may remain for four to five days,” he said.

He added that the flood by-pass might be taken down to control water level and a red alert has already been issued.

“That’s why we are making announcements for people to relocate. The administration is doing everything needed to make the process safe,” he said.

Lalmonirhat district administration chief Additional Deputy Commissioner Ahsan Habib said that the situation was being closely monitored.

“The people in flooded are being given relief aid,” he said and added that so far everything was under control.

Lalmonirhat-1 lawmaker Motahar Hossain said that six unions have already been flooded and thousands are stuck there and in grave crisis.

“We have contacted Dhaka for relief allocation and the district administration has been ordered to take necessary steps,” he said.

Meanwhile, the water level at Nilphamari district is 50 cm above danger level and almost 15 chars have been flooded with almost 75,000 people in crisis.

A dam at Jaldhaka upazila has cracked and four unions are at a risk of flooding if it breaks.

“We have found a 60 m crack in the dam,” said Water Development Board Divisional Deputy Engineer Hafizul Haque.

A dam at Dimla upazila has completely broken down forcing nearly 2000 families to relocate to a safe location.

Bangla Tribune’s Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari correspondents have provided inputs for this report.