Sylhet hit by worst floods in years

Sylhet, hit by the worst flooding in a decade and a half. The overall flood situation has not improved, despite eight days having passed since flash floods hit this region.

The Surma and Kushiarar rivers continue to flow above the danger level due to the onrush of hilly waters from India as 2,200 mm of rainfall has been recorded in Cherrapunji of Meghalaya state in the last eight days.

The dyke, a long wall built to prevent flooding, collapsed at the Barak river along the border with India, due to the onrush of hilly waters in the small hours of Friday, inundating several areas of Zakiganj upazila, including Fillakandi, Amalshid, Barthakuri, Khasirchak, Khairchak, Baroghatta and Sonasar.

At the same time, the road communication between Zakiganj and Sadar upazilas was snapped due to flooding, said acting upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Zakiganj, Pallab Hom Das. Following this dyke collapse, flooding may intensify in other upazilas of Sylhet as well, he added.

New areas of the district have been inundated since early Friday. The flood situation remained the same in 13 upazilas of the district -- Companiganj, Gowainghat, Kanaighat, Zakiganj, Jaintapur and Sylhet Sadar upazilas to name a few. Several agricultural fields have been inundated due to the floods.

According to the District Agriculture Extension Office, 1,301 hectares of Aush paddy field, 1,704 hectares of Boro field and 1,004 hectares of summer vegetables went under water on Thursday.

Although the government promised to provide relief, many did not get it as road communication between Sadar upazila and several other places has been cut off due to the worsening flood situation. The flood-hit people of Sylhet city are also facing food and water crisis.

Besides, hundreds of students have been hit hard as flooding forced authorities to close educational institutions in Sylhet district.

According to the district primary education office, flood waters have entered some 550 educational institutions in the district.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the Surma river was flowing 11.27 cm above the danger level at Sylhet Point on Thursday.

Besides, the Kushiara river was flowing at 17.17 cm at Sylhet point. On the other hand, at Sheola (Sylhet) point, the water level of the river was at 13.62 cm. Although the waters of the Sari river did not cross the danger level, it was flowing at 11.48 cm.

Meanwhile, Sylhet Meteorological Department senior meteorologist Sayeed Ahmed Chowdhury said heavy rains are expected in the district till next Sunday. From next Monday or Tuesday, the rainfall will decrease.

As per the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Sylhet district recorded 47mm rainfall in 24 hours.