Dhaka, Sep 26 (V7N)- The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board has forecast a potential rise in river water levels in six regions due to heavy rains. The forecast warns that the low-lying areas and grasslands of the Teesta basin may experience short-term flooding over the next three days, though the situation is not expected to develop into a full-scale flood.

According to a bulletin issued on Wednesday, very heavy rainfall is expected in the Rangpur division and its adjacent upstream areas, which may lead to a rapid rise in the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers. The water in these rivers could approach the warning level, especially in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Kurigram districts. However, they are still expected to remain below the danger mark.

While the Brahmaputra and downstream Yamuna rivers are currently receding and flowing below the danger level, they are predicted to stay stable for the next two days before possibly rising over the following three days.

In the Chittagong division, rivers such as the Gomti, Muhuri, Halda, and Feni are seeing a rise in water levels, while the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are receding and flowing below the danger level. The next 24 hours are expected to bring heavy rain to the division and adjacent upstream areas, likely leading to an increase in water levels for the Gomti, Halda, Feni, and Muhuri rivers, although still below the danger mark.

The Meteorological Office has also indicated that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across the country as the low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal weakens and interacts with the monsoon axis. The forecast suggests light to moderate rain with occasional thunder in most regions, particularly in the Dhaka, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisions.

In Sylhet, the water levels of the Surma and Kushiara rivers are receding, but heavy rainfall in the next two days could cause these rivers to rise again. Similarly, the Ganga and downstream Padma rivers in the Rajshahi division are expected to maintain their current levels over the next 24 hours before beginning to recede slowly in the following days.

Despite the warnings of rising water levels, the FFWC has reported that all major rivers across Bangladesh are currently flowing below danger levels.

END/RH/AJ