At the beginning of every month, the Meteorological Department makes a long-term forecast of the weather conditions for that month. At the beginning of this month, the forecast said that short-term flooding may occur in the northern, north-central and southeastern regions of the country this month.It was reported that this flood will be due to heavy rains under the influence of monsoon. Among them, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria in the north-central region and Comilla, Feni, Chittagong, Khagrachari, Noakhali in the southeast region have been affected by floods.
In total, eight districts of the country have been affected by floods. These districts are Comilla, Feni, Chittagong, Khagrachari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Brahmanbaria.
Sources from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said on Thursday afternoon that 357 unions in 8 districts of the country have been affected by the flood. 4 lakh 40 thousand 840 families have become watertight. The total number of affected people is 29 lakh 4 thousand 964. Two have died so far. One in Feni, another in Brahmanbaria.
Regarding the cause of this flood, Sardar Uday Raihan, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Center, told Prothom Alo that the waters of seven main rivers in the North-Eastern and South-Eastern regions are flowing over the boundary line. This creates a flash floods situation. Rains started in these areas from August 16. And on August 18, the low pressure created in the ocean entered the land. Later, the low pressure came to the central part of Bangladesh and caused heavy rains. Heavy rains occur in the mountainous basins of southeastern Bangladesh and upstream in the Tripura region of India.
Sardar Uday Raihan said the sea tide was higher than normal due to heavy rainfall over a wide area, low sea pressure and also full moon. Because of that, the process of rain water is obstructed. Along with this, due to the heavy rainfall upstream, our Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria and the south-eastern regions of Comilla, Feni, Chittagong were flooded.
At noon today, the water level of Manu river in Moulvibazar is 115 cm above the water level, Khowai river is 195 cm in Habiganj, Gomti water is 77 cm in Comilla, Muhuri river is flowing 55 cm above the water level in Parashuram, Feni.
In the last 24 hours, there has been heavy rain in India’s Tripura and the bordering districts of Bangladesh, said Uday Raihan. He said, as a result, the river water in these areas has increased and the flood situation has worsened.
The picture of the flood situation across the country was seen on Friday
The region has records of floods in the past. But this time in Bangladesh and upstream, the intensity of flood has increased compared to other years, said Uday Raihan. He said that at some points the water level in the river has exceeded past records. An example is the Khoai River. This is the highest water flow in at least 60 years. Not only in Bangladesh, the record flow of water in the river has also happened upstream. The Manu River has reached its highest level in history in the Indian state of Tripura.
All in all, the flood is severe this time. And the main cause of flood is excessive rain. Along with this, the low pressure in the sea and the presence of the full moon combined with the flood has become widespread. And because of the full moon, the tendency of the tidal water to recede was reduced.
Sardar Uday Raihan said that heavy rainfall is also the main cause of floods. Along with this, low pressure, monsoons and ocean tides have worked.