Swarupa Khatun, 55, has no house of her own. She lived with seven children and her husband Abdur Rahim in a house they did not own in Mujibnagar, East Islampur Union of Companiganj. When the floodwaters submerged the whole of Mujibnagar, they had to take refuge in the nearby village of South Chandranagar.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday, Swarupa in South Chandranagar, said that the rising floodwaters on Tuesday had forced them to seek shelter in that house with their cows and goats.
Describing the difficult life with her seven children, Swarupa mentioned that they are now living in a crowded situation.
Not only Swarupa but also Sharifa, Akalima, Rahim, and many others are enduring miserable conditions due to the flood. The people of Sylhet are suffering immensely because of the continuous rains and the second wave of floods caused by upstream water.
According to the Sylhet district administration, 957,448 people were trapped in floodwaters as of Wednesday morning. About 21,786 people are staying in shelters.
On June 18, 2022, Sylhet experienced severe floods. This year's floods, which began on Tuesday, is bringing back memories of that disaster for the people of Sylhet.
Rahim, a resident of Chandranagar village, said: "We are in a lot of trouble with water. No one even inquires about us."
Bulbul Ahmad, a resident of Beanibazar, said that the rising waters in Kushiara had submerged the lower areas and streets of Beanibazar.
Journalist Abdul Hasib Tapadar from Zakiganj noted that the flood situation has worsened in Zakiganj of Sylhet, with new areas being inundated. Rural roads and many other areas are submerged. People are struggling with a lack of clean water, and domestic animals are also in extreme distress.
Most of the six Union Parishad (UP) areas of the upazila, including part of the municipal area, are flooded.
Zakiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afsana Taslim said the authorities had received 63 tons of rice, 50 packets of dry food, Tk125,000 in cash, and Tk75,000 for baby food for distribution among the flood victims.
Sylhet, Sunamganj flood situation unlikely to change in 24hrsDeplorable Conditions in Shelters
The situation in Sylhet's shelters is dire. Currently, 21,786 people are staying in 361 shelters across Sylhet city and the district's 13 upazilas. Among them, 2,600 people are housed in 20 shelters managed by the city corporation.
Sabana Begum, 60, who is staying at the Machimpur shelter, recounted how she and her family swam to safety three days ago. Her house remains flooded, and she hasn't eaten in three days. Initially, they received cooked khichuri, but now they only have water.
Sulekha, 40, another shelter resident, said that there are no stoves for cooking in the shelter, and the high prices of goods exacerbate their hardship.
Sylhet experienced its first phase of flooding on May 29, followed by a second wave starting on June 18.
Worsening flood situation in Sylhet: Rivers swell above danger levelSylhet Meteorological Office Assistant Meteorologist Shah Md Sajib Hossain reported that the sky over Sylhet is cloudy, with a chance of thunderstorms. From 6am to 12pm on Thursday, 20mm of rain fell, and a total of 110.2mm was recorded in the last 24 hours. Moderate to heavy rain is expected in Sylhet over the next two days.
The latest bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre indicated that while the water level in the Surma River has slightly decreased in Sylhet, the Kushiara River's level is rising. The Surma River is 80cm above the danger level at Kanaighat and 29cm above at Sylhet, while the Kushiara River is 87cm above at Amalsid and 42cm at Sheola.
On Wednesday, the Surma River's levels were 96cm above the danger mark at Kanaighat and 37cm at Sylhet, with the Kushiara River levels at 62cm above at Amalsid, 36cm at Sheola, 100cm at Fenchuganj, and 21cm at Sherpur.
Water pressure has decreased in Companiganj, Gowainghat, and Jaintapur, but it is increasing in the lower areas of Beanibazar, Zakiganj, Balaganj, Osmani Nagar, Bishwanath, Golapganj, and South Surma upazila.
Sylhet Water Development Board Executive Engineer Deepak Ranjan Das noted that due to reduced rainfall in Sylhet and Cherrapunji, India, on Wednesday night, the river water levels have slightly decreased from the danger level.
In a bulletin released on Thursday, the Sylhet district administration reported a lack of rescue boats and speedboats for conducting rescue operations and relief activities during disasters. As of Thursday, the number of flood-affected people in Sylhet had risen to 957,448, an increase of over 100,000 in just one day. Floodwaters have inundated 23 city wards and 153 unions and municipalities across the district.
To accommodate those displaced by the floods, 698 shelters have been opened in both the district and the city, with 80 located in the metropolis. Currently, 21,786 people are staying in these shelters. However, the majority of affected individuals are reluctant to leave their homes for the shelters. In total, 1,602 villages have been flooded.
