At least 30,000 people of Kurigram are currently marooned as the flood situation in the district's Rajarhat, Ulipur and Chilmari upazilas remains largely unchanged, according to the district relief and rehabilitation office.

The Teesta was still flowing above the danger level in the northern district, despite less rainfall and reduced flow of water from upstream India.

As of noon yesterday, the river was 9cm above the danger level at Kaunia Point of the Teesta Barrage, down from 30cm Sunday morning.

However, it was flowing up to 12cm above the danger level at several other points, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

The Teesta crossed the danger mark on Friday.

In Rajarhat's Burirhat area, half of a 60-metre WDB flood control dyke collapsed Sunday night.

The remaining half is also at risk of getting washed away in the strong currents.

WDB officials have been trying to protect it by dumping geo bags.

Thousands of families living near the embankment are now at risk of facing inundation and subsequent erosion.

Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of Kurigram WDB, told The Daily Star, "We have already informed the matter to higher authorities. The new dyke will be constructed once the necessary allocation is available."

Majibur Rahman, 68, a farmer in Burirhat, said, "The dyke was built in 1999. We never thought it would collapse."

Besides, 50 houses went into the river and 500 houses were inundated by floodwater in Bidyananda and Ghorialdanga unions of the upazila, reports UNB.

Many roads went underwater, snapping communication between to two unions.

Two government primary schools and a bazaar in Bidyananda are at risk of damage from the imminent erosion.

Md Minhajul, a member of Ghorialdanga union parishad, said around 200 houses and other establishments were inundated.

Abul Kashem, of Kisamat Nakonda area, told UNB that 45 out of 75 houses in his village were flooded.

In the meantime, the flood situation improved in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat as the Teesta was flowing 19cm below the danger level at Dalia Point, said Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of the district WDB.

Despite the Teesta receding, apprehension of a fresh flood still persisted among the affected in nine unions of Nilphamari's Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas, as an onrush of water from upstream and sudden heavy rainfall are frequent in monsoon.

Many affected people are still living on Teesta embankments and are unwilling to leave as the recurrence of floods has traumatised them.

Ekhlas Ali, 60, of Dimla upazila's Khalisha Chapani union, said, "I'll stay on the embankment until it's safe to return home. We have been badly struck by this unpredicted flood."

With the recession of flood water, erosion took a severe turn in Kisamat Satnai char as five houses were washed away by strong river currents on Sunday night, leaving 30 more homes at risk.

Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Noor-e-Alam said he visited the affected areas yesterday and distributed relief materials.

[Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari contributed to this report.]