M M Jasim :
Incessant heavy rainfall in the last few days has triggered flooding in three districts of Sylhet Division and some upazilas of Chattogram and hill districts. Feni, Porashuram, Rangamati have been also flooded by heavy rains.
Thousands of people of these districts and upazilas have been marooned and suffering different difficulties, as a result of it.
Khowai, Manu and Dhalai rivers have swelled up, flooding a number of villages in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts in the Sylhet Division.
Latest report said Manu was flowing 175 centimetres above danger level at Manu Railway Bridge point in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar district. Also, the Dhalai was flowing 52 centimetres over the danger level at Dhalai Bridge point in Kamalganj.
Shankar Chakraborty, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board’s (WDB) local office said, the water levels may further rise in the next 24 hours.
He said, the onrush of water from Indian state of Tripura is adding to the swelling of the rivers in addition to the heavy monsoon rains since Tuesday.
A number of villages in Kamalganj and Kulaura upazilas have been inundated due to the swelling of the rivers, he said.
Meanwhile, water level of Khowai River in Habiganj was flowing 180 centimetres above the danger mark in Habiganj town point causing flood, said Tauhidul Islam, executive engineer of WDB’s Habiganj office.
The Habiganj town protection dyke has been facing threat of collapse at different points due to the rise of water level in Khowai River, he said.
The low-lying areas along the dyke were inundated by the river water, said Mohammad Mahmudul Huq, Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
Meanwhile, three upazilas in Chattogram were inundated due to continued rainfall for last three days till Wednesday morning causing several thousand people marooned.
Severe flooding has been reported in Hathazari, Raozan and Fatikchhari upazilas of the district that caused untold sufferings to the people.
In Hathazari, regional roads, fish enclosures, houses and business establishments were submerged by the rain water.
Besides, embankments of the River Halda at different points have collapsed, increasing the woes of the people. The Hathazari-Rangamati, Hathazari-Khagrachhari and Hathazari-Oxygen highways were inundated causing immense sufferings to the commuters. Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Akterunnesa Sheuli said the local administration had taken all out preparations to tackle any natural disaster.
The inhabitants of low-lying areas have been asked to take shelter in local educational institutions, she said.
In Raozan, heavy rains flooded many low-lying areas in the upazila, causing untold sufferings to the people.
Nearly one lakh people in six unions – Haldia, Dabua, Chikdair, Ghahira, Noajishpur, Purba Gujra and Raozan – have been trapped following the rain water.
People were seen wading through the knee-deep water on Chattogram-Rangamati Road on Tuesday. Besides, traffic remained suspended on the road due to the flood.
Shamim Hossain, UNO of Raozan upazila, said onrush of hill water and persistent rains for the last three days have inundated at least six unions of the upazila.
A total of 24 shelter centres have been opened and moreover as a control room will be in operation for 24 hours, he added.
Leave of all employees and staffs of the local administration have been cancelled and were asked to remain in their work place round the clock, the UNO added.
In Fatikchhari upazila, persistent rains for the last three days led to severe flooding in 12 unions of the upazila.
The Aman seedbeds were damaged while fish ponds were washed way.
Meanwhile, Taiab, 28, a resident of Purba Farhadabad reportedly went missing in the flood water around 4:30pm on Tuesday. Khurshid Alam, Gauge Station officer of Water Development Board in Narayanhat, said water of the Halda has been flowing 5.90 centimeter above the danger level till 6:00pm on Tuesday.
Some fifty villages in the upazilas were inundated by the flood water, rendering three lakh people marooned.
Besides, at least 14 villages in Baghaichhari upazila of the district were submerged due to rains and onrush of hill water for the last three days, rendering 60,000 people marooned.
A vast area of crops land of the upazilas went under flood water, forcing people to take shelter in the nearest schools, colleges and madrasahs. Besides, water level in Kaptai Lake was flowing over the danger level that inundated the low-lying areas of the upazilas including Longdu, Jurachhari, Barkal, Bilaichhari and Naniarchar areas.
AKM Mamunur Rashid, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati, said several villages were flooded as the water of the River Kachalong rises following the rain.
Several shelter centres were opened for flood affected people and around 10 tonnes of rice was distributed among them, he said.
UNB adds: In Rangamati, 14 villages in Baghaichhari upazila of the district were submerged due to rains and onrush of water from hills for the last three days, leaving 60,000 people marooned.
Besides, the water in the Kaptai Lake was flowing over the danger level inundating the low-lying areas of the upazila, including Longdu, Jurachhari, Barkal, Bilaichhari and Naniarcharareas.
AKM Mamunur Rashid, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, said several villages were flooded as the water in the Kachalong River rises following the rain.
Several shelters centres were opened for flood-affected people and around 10 tonnes of rice was distributed among them, he said. In Habiganj, the water level in the Khowai River is flowing 210cm above the danger level at Machulia point of the district town following the onrush of water from hills, said Md Tawhidul Islam, executive engineer of Water Development Board. The town protection dyke stands threatened at different points due to the increase in the water level in the Khowai River. In Kamarganj upazila, 50 villages were flooded as embankment on the Dhalai River developed cracks at eight points due to incessant rain and onrush of water from hills.
In Feni, 17 villages in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas were flooded by the onrush of water from upstream and rain, rendering several thousand people marooned.
WDB executive engineer Kohinur Alam said the Muhuri River at Parshuram point was flowing 80cm above the danger level at 6pm on Tuesday.
