Nearly 20, 000 people have been stranded in Lalmonirhat due to flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall over the past three days and onrush of upstream waters.
On Sunday night, the Teesta River鈥檚 water at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was recorded 52.45cm above the danger level.
By 6:00am Monday, it was 10cm above danger mark and by 9:00am it fell 3cm below the danger level, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
Officials said rising water level submerged several areas of Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, and Lalmonirhat Sadar upazilas.
The affected villages include Goddimari, Duwani, Saniyajan, Singamari, Sindurna, Haldibari, Dauwabari in Patgram and Hatibandha; Votmari, Shoilmari, Kakina, Nohali in Kaliganj; Mahishkhola, Gobardhan, Kalmati, Bahadurpara, Palashi in Aditmari; and Folimari, Khuniagach, Kulaghat, Mogolhat, Rajpur, Borobari, Gokunda in Sadar upazila.
Faruk Ahmed of village Gobardhan in Aditmari said there was little water until Sunday afternoon but it rose suddenly in the evening.
Their house was submerged forcing them to move a safe place, he said.
Rafiqul Islam from village Sindurna in Hatibandha said everything was submerged before eyes as water entered the house.
Ziaur Haque Zia, acting chairman of Goddimari Union Parishad, said several villages were inundated due to flash floods and heavy rainfall, leaving at least 5,000 people stranded.
Nurul Islam, in-charge at Dalia point Barrage, said although water was 30cm above the danger mark at midnight it fell below the danger level by 9:00am.
Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat BWDB warned that continued heavy rainfall and upstream waters could raise water levels again and urged riverside residents to stay alert.
Deputy commissioner of the district HM Rakib Haider said they were closely monitoring the situation.
The administration is ready to respond to any emergency, he added.