Padma water nears danger level, chars inundated
The char areas are being inundated by Padma water
Water levels in the Padma River are rising at the Rajshahi point. The water is overflowing the riverbanks and entering char areas. Houses, courtyards and roads are being submerged. In some areas, people are struggling to keep their livestock safe. Elsewhere, they are boarding boats in search of safer shelter.
The Padma River water level in Rajshahi is now nearing the danger level. The danger level of the Padma in Rajshahi is 18.5 meters. At 3 pm on Friday (September 11), the river water level rose to 17.25 meters. This means the water is flowing just 80 centimeters below the danger level.
Earlier at 9 am on Friday, the Padma water level in Rajshahi was 17.20 meters.
The Water Development Board said the Padma water level has been rising for nearly 10 days due to upstream water flow. At 6 pm on Thursday (September 10), the water level was 17.15 meters. By 9 am on Friday, it had risen further to 17.20 meters.
Arifur Rahman Ankur, executive engineer of the Rajshahi Water Development Board, said, ‘Although the Padma water level is rising, no risk has yet emerged for the Rajshahi city protection embankment. However, the WDB is on alert to deal with the situation. Immediate measures will be taken if any risk is detected at any point along the embankment. Although the city protection embankment is currently safe, the situation has already become difficult for people living in the chars south of the river. Water has entered various char areas, including Char Khidirpur and Middle Char along the Indian border across from Rajshahi city. Low lying areas along the river have also started to become inundated.’
‘Water has also entered low lying areas along the river in Srirampur and Panchabati areas of the city, as well as low lying areas in the chars of Paba and Godagari. Residents of Char Khidirpur and Middle Char have suffered the most. Houses, courtyards and roads have been submerged by water following several days of heavy rain. With no dry land available, they are struggling to keep their livestock,’ he added.
He said, ‘According to local residents, more than 350 families and nearly 10,000 livestock in the two chars have become stranded by water. As floodwaters continue to rise, many families have left their homes and boarded boats. They have taken cows, essential furniture and daily necessities with them. Some have crossed the Padma and taken shelter in the Bhagar Ghat area of Harian Union in Paba upazila.’
Jamil Rahman, a farmer from Char Khidirpur, said, ‘Around 300 families and thousands of livestock in Char Khidirpur and Middle Char have been stranded by water for eight days. Most people have crossed to this side of the Padma with their cows to save their lives. I also took shelter at Bhagar Ghat by boat with my family, cows and furniture.’
Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ibnul Abedin said, ‘Food assistance is being distributed in various unions and remote char areas of the Padma. The amount of assistance will be increased further based on the situation.’
District Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam said, ‘Around 300 families have been affected by water entering Char Khidirpur and Middle Char. Relief is being distributed among these families. Arrangements have also been kept in place to move people stranded by water to safe locations if necessary. Meanwhile, as the water level rises, there is a growing risk that new low-lying areas will be inundated.’
The WDB said the Padma water level is still below the danger level. However, authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the rising trend continues. Although there is no risk to the city protection embankment yet, the suffering of people in the char areas is already visible.
