New areas of south and south-western coastal areas of the country were flooded on Saturday as water entered the areas by overflowing rivers and breaching embankments at points due to excessive pressure of high tide.

The flood situation in the central districts of Manikganj, Rajbari and Faridpur, however, remained steady while the situation was improving in the northern region of the country.

Though the situation is improving in the north, river erosion continues there, reports received from the districts said.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh in its daily bulletin on Saturday morning, referring to the numerical model of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said that there was a chance of medium to heavy rainfall in south-western and south-central coastal region of the country in next 24 hours and the flood situation in these regions might remain steady during the time.

‘The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Ganges-Padma rivers are in steady state which may continue for next 24 hours. Major rivers of the upper Meghna basin in the North-Eastern region of the country are in rising trend which may continue rising in next 24 hours,’ it said.

Reports received from south-western coastal districts said that the embankments along the rivers breached during cyclone Amphan and they became weak at places and now water have been entering the localities by overflowing river and breaching embankments at several points due to pressure of excessive rise of high tide water for influence of new moon.

Our correspondent in Satkhira reported that at least 50 villages of Ashashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas in the district were flooded that washed away over 500 shrimp enclosures and submerged standing crops.

Pratapnagar union parishad chairman Sheikh Zakir Hossain of Ashashuni said that 20 villages, out of 21, of his union were flooded as the new ring dams breached at Kola and Harishkhai points while the high tide water was flowing three to four feet higher than the normal time.

‘The villagers are witnessing chest-level water during the high tide and the water is receding during the ebb tide,’ he said.

Water has been inundating new areas in villages of Shriula, Chakla and Kurikaunia through breached points in an embankment at Hazrakhali, said Shriula UP chairman Abu Hena Shakil.

Gabura UP chairman Masudul Alam of Shyamnagar said that though they could repair six breached points by Saturday morning, the embankment of Nonabunia breached at seven more points in the afternoon and two more villages were inundated in the evening.

Our Correspondent in Khulna reported that at least 30 villages in Paikgachha and Kayra upazilas were flooded as the embankments beside river Kapatakshmi was raptured at places and river water was overflowing.

Uttar Bedkashi UP chairman Sardar Nurul Islam of Kayra said that at least 13 villages of his union were flooded after 200-foot stretch portion of an embankment was breached at Kashirhatkhola area.

More villages of Dakhkhin Bedkashi, Maharajpur and Kayra Sadar unions are still submerged in water, said WDB-2 officials.

Paikgachha upazila nirbahi officer said that several villages of Deluti and Soladana unions inundated by breaching embankment at four points and tidal water surge had flooded three new villages of Deluti union.

Bagerhat WDB executive engineer Nahid uz Zaman said that several riverside areas were flooded by overflowing rivers as the high tide water was three to four feet higher than the normal time.

The United News of Bangladesh reported on Saturday that at least 10 villages in Barguna were inundated by flood after the Majherchar embankment along the Bishkhali river had been washed away in torrential rain in last couple of days due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

Our Correspondent in Sirajganj reported that the flood situation in the area improved.

District WDB officials said with the water receding in the area, river erosion occurred and a portion of about 50 metres of riverbank protection dam at Dhekuria under Kazipur of the district wa