News Desk :
Excessive rainfall in Meghalaya and Assam of India and Bangladesh’s north-eastern parts have triggered flash floods in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts.
As the river Surma is overflowing in many parts and water of other rivers is also rising fast, the risk of long-term flood is on the rise, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board in Sylhet and Sunamgnaj.
In Sunamganj, Surma was overflowing 46cm above danger level in the town area today (Saturday) at 9:00am. Areas in the municipality, like Kazir Point, Riverview and Ukilpara remained waterlogged due to the flash flood, Md Sabibur Rahman, executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), in Sunamgnaj said.
The flash flood also triggered river erosion at many parts of Sunamganj Sadar, Dowarabazar, Shulla and Chhatak upazila, the BWDB official said.
Meanwhile in Sylhet, Surma river is overflowing 40cm above danger level at Kanaighat upazila point while the water level is rising fast at the other points as well, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, executive engineer of BWDB in Sylhet, said.
On the other hand, Sari River is 45cm below danger level at Sarighat point, but the flash flood from India has already inundated low-lying parts of Gowainghat, Jaintiapur and Companiganj upazila, Shahiduzzaman said.
In the affected upazilas, more than one lakh people remain waterlogged while the upazila administrations prepare temporary shelters at schools, respective upazila nirbahi officers confirmed.
Besides, 250 villages have been flooded in Kurigram district, rendering over 75,000 people marooned as the Brahmaputra and the Dharla Rivers are flowing above the danger level.
In Kurigram, the Dharla River was flowing 43cm above the danger level at Bridge Point while Brahmaputra 38cm above the danger level at Chilmari point at 12pm on Saturday, WDB sources said.
Ariful Islam, executive engineer of Kurigram WDB, said, “Although water in the Dharla and the Teesta Rivers likely to decrease in one or two days but Brahmanputra river water will continue rising.”
Flood water has been entering new areas every day and damaging jute, vegetables and seed beds in the district, he added.
Kurigram Sadar Upazila’s Jatrapur Union Parishad Chairman Ayub Ali said 15 chars in his union were inundated.
People of those char areas have taken shelter in nearby flood centres and schools, he added.
Some areas in Bhurungamari, Chilmari, Roumari, Rajibpur and Ulipur upazilas were also submerged by floodwater .
According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Aush on 37 hectares of land, sesame on 93 hectares and green chili on six hectares were damaged by flood in Kurigram Sadar and Roumari upazilas.
Vegetables, maize, peanut, and jute fields were also damaged in the district.
