As the well marked low pressure of the Bay intensified into a land depression over the West Bengal and adjoining areas of Bangladesh, the improvement of flood situation in Dhaka city may experience a brief halt, according to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

FFWC Chief Engineer Saiful Hossain told The Daily Star yesterday, "The rainfall is likely to delay the recession of floodwater but still it is a welcome rain in Rangpur, Panchagarh, Dinajpur and Chapainawabganj where farmers are suffering from drought."

However, the flood situation in the districts of Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Chandpur and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka is likely to continue to slowly improve during the next few days.

The water levels of the Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Padma and the Meghna went down at all points.

The water levels of small rivers surrounding Dhaka and Narayanganj observed a slight rise and fall at different points. The water levels are expected to fall at a lower rate in the next 24-72 hours.

The Buriganga in Dhaka is now flowing 42cm below its danger level. The Lakhya at Narayanganj swelled 1cm and it was flowing 15cm above danger level yesterday morning. The water level of the Turag at Mirpur dropped 9cm and was flowing 35cm above danger mark and the Tongi canal dropped 3cm at Tongi and was flowing 61cm above danger level yesterday morning.

The water level of the Meghna at Bhairab Bazar continued to fall and as a result the flood situation in the districts of Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj and Gazipur will continue to improve, the FFWC expected.

A correspondent in Faridpur reports: Flooding in Faridpur took four more lives yesterday. However, the flood situation in the district is gradually improving as the water of the Padma receded significantly.

Diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases are spreading. Yesterday, 23 new patients were admitted to various hospitals with flood-related diseases. At least 335 patients are having treatment in different medical centres in the district.

According to sources in the district agriculture extension department and the district administration, crops on 36,537 hectares of land was damaged. Around 8,691 hectares of Amon, vegetables on 2,165 hectares and jute on 20,063 hectares were destroyed.

Our staff correspondent in Khulna reports: Five villages under Koira upazila were inundated as breaches developed in the 65km-long flood-protection embankment there. Bangladesh Coastguards and locals were trying to repair the embankment.

Our correspondent in Magura reports: Even though floodwater of the villages in Shalikha and Sadar upazilas started to recede, flood situation of the district deteriorated following incessant rain during the last two days.