The possibility of floods looms over Sylhet as the water levels of different rivers in Sylhet and Sunamganj continue to surge due to incessant rains and hilly landslides.
Even though the water levels in the Surma River at the Kanaighat point exceeded the danger point on Saturday, dipping again at night, it flowed over the danger level once again on Sunday evening.
Sylhet Water Development Board Executive Engineer Asif Ahmed said that although the water level of the Surma River at the Kanaighat point decreased on Sunday morning, it surpassed the danger limit again after 3pm.
According to the flood control room of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), as of Sunday evening, the water level at Kanaighat point of Surma River was flowing 22cm above the danger level.
In Sunamganj, the Surma River is flowing over the danger level at the Chhatak point as well.
Areas in the district are slowly submerging and communication with Tahirpur has been severed.
BWDB Executive Engineer Md Shamsuddoha, in Sunamganj, informed that the rivers in Sunamganj are rising due to heavy rainfall and hill landslides.
As of Sunday morning, the water was flowing 41cm above the danger level at the Chhatak point.
He cautioned that if the ongoing rainfall and hill landslides in India persist, there may be flooding in Sunamganj.
Other rivers are also flowing near the danger level.
Even though the water of Kushiyara River at the Amalsid point has not exceeded the danger level, it is flowing 102cm below the danger limit.
Additionally, the water levels of the Kushiyara River at the Sheola and Fenchuganj points are also increasing.
Furthermore, the water levels of the Lobhachara River in Kanaighat, the Sari River in Jaintapur, and the Dhalai River in Companiganj are on the rise as well.
There was continuous rainfall since Saturday in Sylhet, marked by ominous weather.
The Sylhet Weather Office recorded 92mm of rainfall on Saturday, and 45mm of rain from 6am to 6pm on Sunday.
Continuous rainfall and landslides have increased water levels of all rivers including Surma, Jadukata, Kushiyara, Bholai, and Patli in the Sunamganj district.
Due to the rise in river levels, water has begun to enter low-lying areas in Chhatak and Dowarabazar upazilas.
As per sources from BWDB, the river water level has been rising from 9pm on Saturday until Sunday evening.
Moreover, a rainfall of 100mm has been recorded in Sunamganj in the last 24 hours.
Locals report that due to hill landslides and continuous rain, water from the river has begun to enter many areas.
About a kilometre of road in Shaktiyar Khola area of Tahirpur upazila is submerged in the water of Jadukata River, bringing traffic to a halt, they added.