Low-lying areas in Sylhet, including the cities, have been flooded due to a downhill onrush of water and heavy rainfall for the last few days causing one of the main rivers of Sylhet, Surma to flow above its danger mark
The river was reported flowing 10cm above its danger mark on Monday. However, around 6pm, the river was flowing 143cm above its danger mark at Kanaighat, 103cm above at Kushiara, and around 35cm above at Sheola point.
Due to that, the river water has entered several parts of Sylhet, including Kazirbazar and Machimpur and Taltola areas of the city.
Local journalist, Ahmad Selim, a resident of Taltola area of the city, said that the city’s drainage system is not working anymore, as the rivers are full due to the constant rain.
He added that the floodwater and waste from the drains have started to enter houses at Taltola and other areas now, creating chaos among the local residents.
Another local journalist Sunil Singho, from the Machimpur area, said that water had flooded his house on Monday night, and knee-deep water was seen on the streets.
The dry fish market areas of the place went under waist-deep water on Monday as well, he added.
Saeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist at the Sylhet Meteorological Department, said Sylhet has experienced less rainfall since Sunday. “However, as it is raining in the Indian subcontinent upstream, the river water would continue to rise.”
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Sylhet Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), said Surma is filled with waste, especially plastic from the locals.
Therefore, Bapa has demanded excavation of Surma River many times. “If authorities took our demands into account, the residents would not have to suffer today.”
On the other hand, residents of ten villages including Ibrahimpur, Sadargarh, Syedpur of Sadar upazila, Barkatnagar, Sharippur, Gozaira, Mohabbatpur Mamdpur, Marfati villages in Doarabazar upazila of the district have been marooned by the flash flood.
The low-lying areas of Tahirpur and Bishwambharpur upazilas and roads were also inundated, causing immense suffering to the residents, reports UNB.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 20 hectares of boro crops land in Tahirpur and Sadar upazilas of the district were submerged.