Continuous rainfall over the past few days and heavy upstream flow from India’s Barak River have caused breaches in three sections of the Kushiyara River embankment in Zakiganj, Sylhet.
Around 2:30am on Monday, the embankment at Rarai village under Zakiganj Sadar union was breached.
Subsequently, in the early hours of the morning, another breach occurred in Bakorshail village of the same union.
By 8am, a third breach developed in Loharmohol village under Kholachora union, allowing floodwater to inundate nearby areas.
As a result, there is growing concern that 25 to 30 surrounding villages may become flooded.
Additionally, water from the Kushiyara River is entering the municipal town through the embankment at Keshri village near the town.
In Maijkandi village, a portion of the embankment has already collapsed into the river.
Water is overflowing into residential areas from more than 50 locations across multiple unions, including Choboria and Senapatirchak of Zakiganj union, Ichapur of Sultanpur Union, several areas in Kholachara union and Pillakandi and Amlashid of Barothakuri union.
Local residents are making desperate efforts to protect the embankments by placing sandbags.
Sources have confirmed that approximately 100 feet of the embankment in Rarai, 40 to 50 feet in Bakorshail and 30 to 40 feet in Loharmohol have been washed away, leading to flooding in the surrounding areas.
There is increasing concern that low-lying areas may soon be submerged, affecting homes, schools, colleges, madrasas and mosques.
Meanwhile, due to the alarming rise in water levels of the Kushiyara River from upstream flow, floodwater has already entered the homes of many riverside residents.
Since Sunday night, people have begun evacuating in search of safer shelter.
The upazila administration has set up a control room to monitor the situation closely.
According to a bulletin issued by the Water Development Board at 9am, the Kushiyara River is flowing 184cm above the danger level at the Amalshid point and 46cm above the danger level at the Sewla point.
Meanwhile, the Surma River is flowing 84cm above the danger level at the Kanaighat point.
Local residents have expressed frustration, stating that the recurring floods in Zakiganj are due to the lack of adequate preventive measures.
Although water levels began to rise on Sunday, officials from the Water Development Board allegedly showed little urgency.
Despite repeated appeals, essential materials such as sandbags have not been supplied, leading to growing public dissatisfaction.
Zakiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahbubur Rahman said that the administration is continuously monitoring the situation.
Preparations are underway to evacuate people from affected areas and at least one shelter has already been opened.
However, the UNO could not confirm the exact number of affected villages at that time but assured that the administration is actively responding to the crisis.