Sylhet, Sunamganj reel under floods

Heavy rainfall triggered by active monsoon submerged much of two northeastern districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj, creating havoc for the people in the rural areas.

As monsoon has arrived early, impacted by cyclone Rimel, the fresh round of flood inundated vast areas of several districts of the country, officials and residents told BSS on Wednesday.

The third wave of devastating flood battered wide swaths of two north-eastern districts Sylhet, Sunamganj and other parts of Bangladesh as flood hit northeastern parts in a shorter time meaning this unusual phenomenon will linger suffering lives and livelihood, they added.

FFWC Executive Engineer Sardar Udoy Raihan said, "Northern regions of Bangladesh and some states of India have witnessed torrential rainfall as monsoon is set early, impacted by the cyclone Rimel resulting in flooding for a third time in Sylhet and Sunamganj."

He said the flood situation will be prolonged as almost the entire country experienced heavy rainfall triggered by active monsoon. Due to massive amounts of rainfall, major rivers are overflowing and submerging vast tracts of land along the rivers, Raihan added.

According to the local administration, thousands of people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as flood water submerged a large portion of the two districts.

Rezaun Rahman, Director General of Department of Disaster Management, said: "We are overseeing the flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj round-the-clock . . . initially, we are working with local administration and other relevant agencies to provide emergency assistances for minimizing sufferings of the flood-hit people."

Aftermath of the prolonged flooding, relevant ministries including agriculture and the road transport and  bridges ministry will submit a complete report on damages caused by the flood, the DG added.

Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzz-aman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of the city corporation are working to extend assistance for flood-hit people. We have arranged an adequate amount of food at shelter centres."

The devastating flood has affected 2.0 million people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued recently.

Water levels at 83 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 27 stations recorded fall.

Among the 110 monitored river stations, water levels at 16 stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said on Wednesday.

The Brahmaputra river at Noonkhawa, Hatia and Chilmari, the Jamuna at Saghata, the Surma river at Kanaighat, at Sylhet, the Kushiyara river at Amalshid, at Sheola, at Sherpur-Sylhet, at Markuli, the Manu river at Manu Rly Bridge, at Moulvibazar, the Khowai river at Ballah, Habiganj, the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 14cm, 20cm, 09cm, 05 cm, 87cm, 02cm, 04cm, 135cm, 43cm, 20cm, 40cm, 28cm, 48cm, 90cm, 35cm and 53cm cm above the danger levels respectively.

In the next 24 hours, the flood situation in the low-lying areas in Kurigram district along Brahmaputra river may deteriorate somewhat. In the next 24 hours, the overall flood situation in various low-lying areas of the North-eastern region may remain in steady state.

Significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on Wednesday.

A total of 127 mm rainfalls were recorded in Rajshahi and 98mm in Dinajour while 69mm rainfalls were posted at Durgapur (Netrokona), 61mm at Pabna, 55mm at Kaunia (Rangpur), 52mm at Jafflong (Sylhet), 116mm at Noakhali, 81mm at Cox's Bazar, 67mm at Jariajanjail (Netrokona), 60mm at Badarganj (Rangpur), 54mm at Mohadebpur, 51mm at Gaibandha, 101mm at Teknaf (Cox's Bazar), 76mm at Itakhola (Habiganj), 62mm at Lama (Bandarban), 56mm at Khulna, 52mm at Rohanpur (Chapai Nawabganj) and 46mm at Narayanghat (Chattogram).

During the last 24 hours, significant rainfalls (mm) were recorded in some states like West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya of India, the bulletin added.