The Teesta may cross the danger mark (DM) at Dalia Point due to a continuous rise in water level following monsoon rains and an onrush of water from the upstream in the last 24 hours ending at 9am on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Brahmaputra may rise rapidly due to heavy rainfall forecast in the Brahmaputra basin and adjoining upstream region in the next 24 hours.
"The Teesta may cross its DM at Dalia point in the next 24 hours due to heavy rainfall forecast in the basin and adjoining upstream," said a bulletin issued by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB on Wednesday.
The Teesta was flowing only 5cm below its DM at Dalia Point in Nilphamari and 92cm below DM at Kawnia Point in Rangpur at 9am on Wednesday.
The recorded rainfalls during the last 24 hours ending at 9am were 72mm at Kawnia, 130mm at Pateshwari, 108mm at Dalia, 75mm at Kurigram, 43mm at Rangpur and 25.5mm at Chilmari points in the Brahmaputra basin.
"Besides, the recorded rainfalls during the period were 130mm at Cherrapunji, 97mm at Dhubri, 96mm at Passighat, 84mm at Jalpaiguri, 75mm at Kailashahar and 58mm at Goalpara points of the northwestern Indian states in the upstream," the bulletin said.
The Dudhkumar was flowing below DM by 33cm at Pateshwari, Dharla by 63cm below DM at Kurigram and Brahmaputra was flowing below DM by 53cm at Noonkhawa, 32cm at Hatia and 65cm at Chilmari points respectively at 9 am today.
The Jamuna was flowing below DM by 32cm at Fulchhari, 56cm at Shaghata, 55cm at Bahadurabad, 65cm at Sariakandi, 133cm at Kazipur and 73cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
Local BWDB sources said a temporary flash flood situation is being created gradually in the Brahmaputra basin due to the rise in water levels of major rivers following monsoon rains and the onrush of water from the upstream during the past few days.
Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle of BWDB Engineer Md Ahsan Habib said BWDB with local administrations and monitoring committees are closely monitoring the possible flash flood situation to take necessary steps.
"We have taken early preparedness to face any situation during possible floods in all eight districts of Rangpur division under BWDB's Rangpur zone when and where needed," he said.
Currently, all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage Project are remaining open at Dalia Point in Nilphamari where the river was flowing only 5cm below DM at 9am on Wednesday.
Divisional Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman said he directed the district administrations and BWDB in a meeting to closely monitor the developing situation for taking immediate steps in kind.
"I have directed the district administrations to keep relief goods ready in advance at upazila levels and take preparations for conducting rescue and relief operations during and post-flood periods in affected areas to face the flood situation," he said.
The Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, BWDB authorities and local public representatives are closely monitoring the flood situation in the flood-prone districts.
