A family takes belongings to a shelter as the River Jamuna flooded its banks and nearby areas at Ghughumari of Sariakandi in Bogura. — New Age file photo

The water level of the River Teesta and River Dharala were flowing above the danger level on Sunday due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from the hilly areas in the upstream.

Bangladesh Water Development Board Northern division chief engineer Jotiy Prasad Gosh said that the Teesta was flowing at least 16 centimetres above the danger level at Dalia point while Dharala 64 centimetres, the River Brahmaputra at Chilmari Point in Kurigram was flowing 65 centimetres above the danger mark in the morning, flooding vast areas of 12 upazilas including Gangachara, Kawnia, Pirgacha, Sundarganj, Fulchari, Rajarhat, Olipur, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat Sadar.

Several thousand people of these flood-hit upazilas are now marooned.

If the flow of water from the hilly areas continued, some 85 villages of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts would be flooded freshly, the local administration apprehended.

Meanwhile, local BWDB officials asked the inhabitants of the low-lying areas of the Teesta, Dharala and Brahmaputra to remain alert about the latest flood situation.

People of the flood-hit in Chilmari upazila said that they had been marooned for four days; but they were yet to get any help from the authorities concerned.

Asgor Ali, chairman of Ramna Union Parishad of Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila, and Shafiqul Islam, chairman of Tapamodhupur Union Parishad of Rangpur’s Kawnia upazila said that they did not receive any government help yet, but the list of the affected people was being processed.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner KM Tarikul Islam said that they were monitoring the situation and had asked the higher authorities for relief for the affected people.

Dalia Water Development Board executive engineer Robiul Islam told New Age that the river was flowing 18cm above the danger level at Dalia point at 1.30pm.

The WDB sources said that onrush of hilly waters causes concern as India opened 54 gates of Gajaldoba Barrage and issued alert in the adjacent areas.

Teesta Barrage authorities also opened 44 gates to tackle the pressure of gushing waters from upstream, leaving at least 90,000 people of 85 villages in 12 upazilas in Rangpur Division in Bangladesh marooned.

Meanwhile, embankment at Chilmari point under Ramna union of Chilmari upazila was eroded due to the pressure of gushing water which caused fear of further erosion.

Atair Rahman, chairman of Goddimari union, said, ‘Now the Teesta and the River Saniazan are separated by only one meter area. If the erosion by both of the rivers starts together, at least two lakh people of the district will be marooned.’

Water Development Board Northern zone chief engineer Joity Prashad Gosh said, ‘We have started dumping sand bags in the affected areas to prevent further erosion.’