Sylhet flood: Situation worsens as nearly 7 lakh people affected

The flood situation in Sylhet has worsened over the past three days as continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoffs triggered the second wave of flooding in the district within just 20 days, submerging numerous roads and homes.

The situation in Sunamganj district also deteriorated further on Wednesday (19 June) due to the rise in the water level of some major rivers, leaving thousands marooned.

As of Wednesday morning, around seven lakh people in the district were affected, with new areas becoming submerged despite the heavy rains slightly subsiding since Tuesday afternoon. 

According to Sylhet district administration, 21 wards of the city and 1,323 villages under the district have been flooded till Tuesday morning, impacting the lives of 675,937 residents. 

In the metropolitan area alone, approximately 50,000 people are trapped due to submerged roads.

Sources from the Sylhet Water Development Board (PUBO) reported that the water level at the Kanighat point of the Surma River was 91 centimetres above the danger line as of 9am on Wednesday. At the Sylhet point, the water level was 37 centimetres above the danger limit. 

Meanwhile, the Kushiara River was flowing 46 centimetres above the danger line at Amalshid Point. At Fenchuganj and Sherpur points, the river water levels were 92 and 12 centimetres above the danger line, respectively.

The floodwaters, that initially affected five bordering upazilas of Sylhet - Companyganj, Kanaighat, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, and Zakiganj - have now spread to the Sadar, Dakshin Surma, Biswanath, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, and Balaganj upazilas, the sources said.

A power substation in the Barikandi area of South Surma of Sylhet is at risk due to landslides and floods and according to power authorities, if flooding continues, about 50,000 people in the area would be without electricity.

The Barikandi substation supplies electricity to the adjacent areas, including Sylhet Railway Station, Barikandi, Kamalbazar, Masukganj, Bcsic, Lalabazar, Shibbari, and Kadamtali Central Bus Terminal.

Sylhet Power Development Board Sales and Distribution Department Executive Engineer Shyamal Chandra Sarkar said, "The substation is at risk due to rising water. But we are fully prepared. The army is also helping us in our efforts."

Earlier, on 27 May, Sylhet experienced flooding due to mountain runoff, affecting about 750,000 people in all upazilas of the district. Before the water from that flood had fully receded, Sylhet was hit by another wave of flooding on 15 June. 

Heavy downpours, accompanied by mountain runoff, worsened the situation from the dawn of Eid day, 17 June. 

Shah Md Sajib Hossain, assistant meteorologist at the Sylhet weather office, said the district recorded 100 mm of rain from 6am Tuesday to 6am on Wednesday. In just three hours on Wednesday, till 9am, 55 mm of rainfall was recorded.

The meteorologist predicted heavy rain in Sylhet for the next few days.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russell Hasan said, "As the flood situation worsens in Sylhet, the upazila administration is taking necessary steps to rescue people trapped in water. 

"Control rooms have been set up in the district commissioner's office and the offices of the upazila executive officers to monitor the overall flood situation. Along with dedicated flood officers in each upazila, tag officers have been appointed in every union."

"Union-based medical teams have also been formed to provide healthcare to flood victims," he added.

Flood situation worsens in Sunamganj

The flood situation in Sunamganj deteriorated further Wednesday due to the rise in the water level of some major rivers and onrush of water from upstream, leaving several thousand people marooned.

Many rivers have been flowing above the danger level, flooding afresh many areas including Tegharia, Boropara, Paschim Hazipara, Kalipur, Mallikpur, Hasonnagar, Shantibagh, Dhopakhali, Shologhor, Nabinagar, Badhanpara, Kazir Point, Waizkhali, Sultanpur and other areas in the district town.

The Surma was flowing 42cm above its danger mark at Shologhar point.

The roads and kitchen markets, shops and several villages were also flooded due to the onrush of water from upstream.

Hundreds of people in the town took shelter in the five-story Ansar-VDP's abandoned building while the domestic animals were also shifted to safer places.

According to local authorities, the communications on Chhatak-Doara, Bishwambharpur, Tahirpur and Jamalganj roads remained snapped as 150 villages of Chatak, Doarabazar, Shantiganj, Jagannathpur, Bishwambharpur, Madhyanagar, Dirai and Tahirpur upazilas were flooded.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Sunamganj, Bimol Chandra Shome, said 200 hectares of Aush paddy land were damaged due to the flood.

Shamsul Karim, district fisheries officer, said 2,000 ponds of the district were washed away, causing a Tk5 crore loss.

Deputy Commissioner Rashed Iqbal Chowdhury said all the rivers have been flowing above the danger level due to the torrential rainfall for the last couple of days. Already 516 shelter centres have been opened and the people from the flood-hit areas are taking shelter on those, he said.

50 villages in Teknaf submerged

Meanwhile, in the south of the country, heavy rainfall has submerged at least 50 villages in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, affecting around 8,000 families, according to local representatives.

Tofayel Ahmed, assistant director at the Cox's Bazar Meteorological Office said, "About 63 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in the region within 24 hours from 12pm Tuesday to 12pm Wednesday."

Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge at Teknaf Meteorological Office, reported 56 millimetres of rainfall in just six hours.

While other upazilas in Cox's Bazar have not reported flooding, Teknaf has seen significant inundation. 

The affected areas include eight villages in Whykong union, 12 in Hnila union, seven in Teknaf municipality, six in Teknaf Sadar union, seven in Subrang union, and 10 in Baharchara union.

Local representatives reported that around 8,000 families are waterlogged, with concerns that continued rainfall may worsen the situation.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Adnan Chowdhury said, "Heavy rainfall has left people in some villages waterlogged. We are monitoring the situation and advising those in landslide-prone areas to relocate. Shelters are prepared for those in need."