WITH the fast receding of waters of the Surma and the Kushiyara Rivers, the livelihood of flood-affected areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj is slowly getting back to normal. However, as a side effect of the fast-receding waters, the flood situation in some low-lying areas on the bank of the Kushiyara at Fenchuganj and Balaganj upazilas in Sylhet further deteriorated. With no floods in the forecast, government offices are now planning for the rehabilitation of the distressed people.
The flash flood has so far affected 20 lakh people in all 13 upazilas in Sylhet and seven upazilas in Sunamganj. In Sylhet, 551 tonnes of rice and 11,800 sacks of dry food were distributed as relief along with other food materials worth Tk 15 lakh. On the other hand, in Sunamganj, 175 tonnes of rice, 4,000 sacks of dry food, and other food-related materials worth Tk 12 lakh were distributed.
The district administration is now assessing the damage. After the final report, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will allot corrugated tin and relevant support for rebuilding damaged houses in the district. Other respective departments will also work on recovering the damage. The flood incurred a good amount of damage to the roads and crop production. In the two districts, more than 650 kilometres of road under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) were damaged. Meanwhile, around 19,000 ponds, fish farms and hatcheries washed away in two districts, causing a loss of around Tk 22 crore, according to the fisheries offices in the districts. Sources at the agriculture extension offices in the districts said more than 2,500 hectares of Boro harvest were damaged along with more than 1,600 hectares of Aus saplings. Additionally, 1,700 hectares of vegetables and 75 hectares of peanuts were also damaged.
The flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj was the worst and affected thousands of people. With the downward water rush from neighbouring India, we need proper caution to minimise the damage. The rehabilitation is a process when local politicians’ pockets swell up, thus the media and administration should remain vigil to reach the deserving people with services.
