Sylhet city witnesses incessant rains, subsequent waterlogging

The low-lying areas of Sylhet city have been submerged as torrential rainfall for the last three days till Saturday morning caused waterlogging, mounting suffering to the city dwellers. Meanwhile, people of Barishal city have been facing immense suffering for the past three consecutive days as most city streets are now under knee-deep water.
Meanwhile, low-lying areas of five upazilas in Sirajganj district have been inundated due to the heavy rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream - posing risk of flooding many areas, reports UNB.
In Sylhet, many shops, roads, ground floor of buildings and government establishments including MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital (OMCH), Sylhet Railway Station have been submerged due to the swelling of the Surma River water, canals and water bodies amid rains.

Different areas of the city Osmani International Airport, Kajalshah, Shahjalal suburb area, Darga Mohalla, Kalighat, Bagbari, Kanishail, Lamapara, Lala Dighirpar, Masudighirpar, Badambagisa, Shahaparan, Kuarpar, Upashohor, Sobha-nighat, Jatarpur, Shibganj, Masimpur, Kamalgarh, Kharpara and Dakkhin Surma, Sylhet Railway Station, were inundated on Saturday morning.
Besides, waist-deep water was seen on Sylhet-Sunamganj and Station Road-Lauai roads, disrupting transport movement.
Meanwhile, the low-lying areas of all upazilas of the district were flooded.
Shah Md Sajeeb Hossain, meteorologist of Sylhet Meteorological Department, said the weather office has recorded 357.8 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 6 am on Saturday while 102 mm of rainfall in three hours from 6 am to 9 am on Saturday.
Abu Turab, a resident of Shahjalal Uposhohor, said, "We are living on the ground floor of a building and the rainwater entered our house on Friday night and most of the residents in the area are experiencing the same problem."
Muhammad Amzad Hossain, a resident of Dargah Mohalla, said that they are struggling a lot as rain water inundated a major portion of the area.
Medical services are being disrupted at Osmani Medical College and Hospital as the ground floor of the hospital was submerged.
Arup Raut, a physician of the hospital, said the ground floor of the hospital, college and dormitories were flooded and the physicians joined their work wading through the knee-deep water.
Farhad Chowdhury Shamim, councillor of No-6 ward of the city corporation, said the torrential rains have led to waterlogging and overflow of drains in various parts of the city causing huge public suffering.
Nur Azizur Rahman, an engineer of Sylhet City Corporation, said the city dwellers have been experiencing waterlogging due to the heavy rainfall.
He also urged the city dwellers to play a role in keeping the drain clean alongside the city corporation authorities.
He also stressed the need for the dredging of the Surma River to free the city from waterlogging.
In Barishal, sufferings of the people aggravated on Saturday morning following a two-hour-long heavy rainfall. Tin-shed houses in most low-lying areas, and ground floors of other buildings went under water due to the incessant rainfall for the past several days.
The city dwellers except day labourers and those involved in emergency services are not leaving their homes.
Visiting several areas, this correspondent found that different roads including Battala to Hatim Ali College Chaumatha Road, Battala Adam Ali Hajir Goli, Oxford Mission Road, Karim Kutir, College Avenue, Gorosthan Road, Bogura Road, BM School Road, Rupatali Housing, Christian Colony of Paddy Research Road, Wapda Colony of Water Development Board, Fourth-grade Staff Quarter by Shebachim Hospital, Kalushah Road, Kazipara and Kaunia areas have been inundated.
Moreover, Bogura Road, Battala, College Avenue and Gorosthan Road areas are still under knee-deep water.
Masud Rana, observer of Barishal Meteorological Office, said they have so far recorded 235mm rainfall in the current month against the usual range from 160-210mm a month.
Moreover, 43.6mm rainfall from 10 am to 12 pm was recorded due to heavy downpour today, he said, forecasting that there may be more rain in Barishal over the next 24 hours. The low pressure area over northwestern part of Bangladesh and adjoining area now lies over the central part of Bangladesh and adjoining area as monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over north Bay, he added.
In Sirajganj, Ranjit Kumar Sarkar, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board, said the low-lying areas along the bank of the Jamuna River including Shahzadpur, Belkuchi, Kazipur, Chouhali and Sadar upazilas of the district have been flooded following the rise in river water.
The water level of Jamuna increased by 39 cm, though it was flowing below the danger level on Friday, but it may rise further in the next 4-5 days due to the incessant rainfall, he said.
Meanwhile, daily life of people in the district has been disrupted due to the torrential rainfall for the last couple of days.
Day labourers are facing the worst, as they failed to secure work, while most locals avoided outdoor activities due to the rain.