Hidrología: investigaciones actuales

Flow Characteristics of the Jamuna River: During the 1988 and 1998 Catastrophic Flood Events in Bangladesh

Abstract

Muhammad Muzibur Rahman and Nazrul M Islam

The 1988 and 1998 flood events hit Bangladesh which was more catastrophic in the present study area, Manikganj district. The Jamuna River has great locational influences to cause severe flood situations in the study area. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) provided the river stage data of the Jamuna for pivot table analysis and drawing hydrographs. The Jamuna River attained its highest peak 10.55 m in August and 10.58 m in September in 1988 flood at Arichaghat station which flowed 141 cm and 144 cm above its danger level (9.14 m). In 1998 flood event, the Jamuna rose up to 10.02 m in July, 10.35 m in August and 10.76 m in September that flowed respectively 88 cm, 121 cm and 162 cm above the danger level (9.14 m). As a whole, the Jamuna flowed above the danger level for 43 days in 1988 and 68 days in 1998 causing the devastating flood in the study area. A total of 2518 people lost their lives and damage to crops fisheries, livestock, was over 120 billion US dollar. About 125 km of local roads, national highways and several hundred bridges, over 250 educational institutions and 140 health structures were affected by the flood events.