Low-lying areas in five upazilas of Sylhet have been inundated amid incessant rains and an onrush of water from upstream, leaving 300,000 people stranded.
Authorities have already opened 470 shelter centres in five upazilas close to the borders with India.
Officials said that due to heavy rains and a surge of upstream water under the influence of Cyclone Remal, the haor and low-lying areas of Gowainghat, Companiganj, Jaintapur, Kanaighat and Zakiganj upazilas are already flooded. Several roads in these upazilas are submerged, blocking traffic. Residents have started moving to shelters as houses collapse.
The district administration said it has requested people to move to the shelter centres. Various areas within these upazilas are submerged, and river water has crossed the danger level at several points.
The district administration distributed 1,000 sacks (200 sacks in each upazila) of dry food, 75 tons of rice and relief materials worth Tk2.5 lakh in five upazilas.
On the other hand, floodwaters have submerged the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway near Bangla Bazaar, Ronpani, and Biraimara areas of Jaintapur, disrupting communication.
The army, BGB, Jaintapur Model Police Station team, Fire Service, Ansar VDP, representatives from various unions, voluntary organisations, and social and political leaders were seen actively participating in the rescue operations.
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russell Hasan and Additional Superintendent of Police Mahfuz Akhter Simul visited the flood-affected areas along with some local public representatives and government officials.
5 rivers above danger level, flooding in four Sylhet upazilas
All tourist spots declared closed in Sylhet
5 rivers above danger level, flooding in four Sylhet upazilas
All tourist spots declared closed in SylhetJaintapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Salika Rumaiya said the army, BGB, fire service, and police are actively involved in rescue operations.
Sylhet Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mobarak Hossain said: “The situation in Kanaighat, Goayanghat and Jointapur is worse. The administration is working alongside the local people in serving the flood-hit families.”
He said: “A control room has been opened for the flood situation. Meetings of district and upazila level disaster management committees have taken place. Rapid rescue operations are underway. The army is ready. If necessary, they will also participate in rescue and relief distribution.”
Liaquat Ali, Chairman of the Jaintapur Upazila Parishad, said rescue operations were hampered by darkness and strong currents on Wednesday night and it resumed on Thursday morning.
Of the 110 rivers monitored by the FFWC, the water levels in 48 rose and 53 declined in the 24 hours till on Thursday evening. Three rivers— Kushiyara, Surma and Sari-Goyain— were flowing above the danger level.
Erosion has occurred at four locations in the Sari-Goyain Wapda embankment project in Jaintapur, causing water to inundate houses in Jaintapur Sadar upazila.
Deepak Ranjan Das, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Sylhet, said that increased rainfall in India’s Meghalaya region has led to rising water levels in Sylhet’s rivers. Water flows above the danger level at four points along the border rivers.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Surma at Sylhet Point may cross the danger level in the next 24 hours and the flood situation in the district may deteriorate.
Additionally, the authorities have restricted tourism at Bholaganj tourist centre.
