DHAKA: Floods in riverside districts took a turn for the worse as 11 of the country’s rivers, including the major ones, remained in spate, flowing above the danger levels in the last 24 hours to 6pm Tuesday.

The sudden swelling of waters in the rivers deteriorated the situation of late flooding in several districts, according to an official flood forecast.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Tuesday said the water levels in the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna and the Meghna kept "rising.”
As a result, the flood situation in Sirajganj, Kurigram, Madaripur, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Munshiganj and Sylhet districts “may deteriorate” further in the next 24 hours, FWC sources said.

They said water levels at 40 points measured increased while at 28 points receded and at four points remained unchanged in the last 24 hours.
Sources said the Brahmaputra was flowing 26 cm above danger levels while the Jamuna at Bahadurabad flowing 28cm, Sirajganj 43cm and Aricha 11cm above danger levels.

Besides, the Padma River at Goalanda point was flowing 55cm at Bhagyakul point 65 cm above danger levels while the waters in the Arial Khan at Madaruipur point were flowing 18cm over danger levels.
Heavy rainfall was recorded in Sylhet (78mm), Jessore (38mm), Kanaighat 81mm abd Sheola of Sylhet (62mm).

Executive engineer of FFWC Amirul Hossain told banglanews, “At present natural flood is flooding the country. There is nothing to worry about. But we have to take precautionary measures.”

Narail correspondent said some 17 houses in Kotakol union under Lohagora upazila were engulfed by the river due to erosion by the Madhumati River.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Anwar Hossain told banglanews that all sorts of help would be given to the families affected by river erosion.

Banglanews Kurigram correspondent said the waters of different rivers, including the Brahmmaputra, the Dudhkumar and the Dharla, increased. As a result, thousands of people of Char areas were affected by flooding.
Jamalpur correspondent said 10 unions of three upazilas of the district were affected by the floods.

Barisal correspondent said a vast area of the district was flooded for the swelling of waters in different rivers.

Huge numbers of people of low-lying areas were virtually marooned in their inundated homes, sources said.

BDST: 1720 HRS, SEPT 14, 2010