The Khowai River in Habiganj is flowing 192 cm above the danger level due to continuous rainfall and upstream runoff from India, putting the city’s protective embankments at significant risk of inundation if water levels continue to rise.
The river’s water level has been rising steadily, and even on Thursday, the increase persists.
In addition, the embankment near Jalalabad village on the city’s outskirts has breached, allowing water to surge into the Haor wetlands at high velocity.
This breach is gradually expanding, raising concerns among locals that the water could soon flood residential areas if the situation does not improve.
Shamim Hasnain Mahmud, executive engineer of the Habigonj Water Development Board, said that the Khowai River’s water levels are rising due to ongoing rainfall in Tripura, India. As of Thursday afternoon, the river’s water level at the Machulia point in the district town was 192 cm above the danger mark, and at the Ballah point on the India-Bangladesh border, it was 278 cm above the danger level.
Efforts are underway to fortify vulnerable areas with sandbags to prevent further breaches. The public has been urged to remain alert, he added.
Tafazzal Sohel, waterkeeper for the Khowai River, said that the simultaneous opening of all gates by India has led to rising water levels in the Khowai, Kushiyara, and Kalni rivers. If the water levels in the Khowai River continue to rise, the city could suffer significant damage, and the embankments might fail.
The embankments are at risk due to years of unplanned sand extraction from the river and the creation of access roads for sand extraction, he added.
According to the Water Development Board, a recent breach in the Khowai River embankment in the Jalalabad area has allowed water to flow into the Haor wetlands.
Residents are keeping vigil throughout the night due to fears of further breaches.
All sections of the Khowai embankment are now deemed at risk, with the river’s water level nearly matching the embankment’s height.
The Water Development Board has indicated that the river’s water level may rise further on Thursday