The flood situation in Sylhet is deteriorating as the main rivers in the region swell above the danger level. Continuous heavy rain has led to widespread inundation in Sylhet city.
Not only Gowainghat but also low-lying areas in Companiganj, Jaintapur, Sylhet Sadar, Zakiganj, Kanaighat, South Surma, Balaganj, Osmaninagar, Biswanath, Sunamganj Sadar, and Duarabazar upazilas are submerged.
The Sylhet District Administration reports that around 3,924 flood-affected people have taken shelter in various flood centres.
According to a bulletin from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Surma River at Kanaighat and Sylhet points, and the Kushiyara River at Amalshid and Fenchuganj points, are flowing above the danger level.
Other bordering rivers, including the Sari, Piane, Goain, and Dholai, are also above their danger marks.
Shah Sojib Hussain, assistant meteorologist at the Sylhet weather office, reported 153mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 6am on Tuesday. The Indian Meteorological Department recorded 395mm of rain in Cherrapunji during the same period.
Most households in Sylhet city are experiencing rain and flash flooding, causing immense suffering for the residents, according to Sajlu Loskor from the Sylhet City Corporation Public Relations Office.
Due to the worsening flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj, an emergency meeting had been called at 7pm, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Md Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury.
The divisional commissioner and the deputy commissioner would join the meeting, the mayor said, adding that they would discuss the overall flood situation in the two areas and coordinate efforts to address it. "We want to save everyone from the devastating floods," he said.
After visiting Ward No 28, which is affected by the floods, earlier in the day, the mayor mentioned that a power station was under threat from floodwaters and that the army had been asked to safeguard the power station.
The Sylhet City Corporation and the district administration have separately opened control rooms.
