Water from upstream is flooding new areas in Sylhet, leaving over 600,000 people marooned in the district.
Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russel Hasan said that about 4,000 people in the metropolitan area are now affected by the floods. The authorities have opened two shelter centers for the city dwellers.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the water level in 41 rivers has increased in the 24 hours until 6 pm yesterday, while the water level in 67 rivers has decreased during the same period.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the water in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers is flowing above the danger line at six points. The Surma river crossed the danger level at Sylhet point on Friday evening, and since then, the water has continued to rise. As of noon yesterday, the Surma was flowing 7cm above danger level at Sylhet point, 83 cm above danger level at Kanighat point, and 116 cm above danger level at Sunamganj point.
Sylhet flood: 300,000 marooned, 3 rivers flowing above danger levelBWDB Sylhet Sub-Divisional Engineer Tanveer Islam told Dhaka Tribune that the flow of water in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers in Sylhet has increased as rainwater from Cherrapunji continues to flow downstream. However, the situation may improve soon as the amount of rain in Cherrapunji is declining.
Sunil Singha, a resident of Sylhet city’s Masimpur area, said over 50 people have been trapped inside their houses due to floodwaters. Around 40 families from Matin Mia Colony have taken shelter in an empty building and at Kishori Mohon Government Primary School.
The FFWC, in its latest update, said the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are on a rising trend, which may continue for the next 72 hours. The Ganges-Padma rivers are in a steady state, which may also continue for the next 72 hours. At the same time, the water level of the Surma-Kushiyara in the northeastern region of the country remains in a steady state, while the water level of other major rivers of concern in the region is on a falling trend.
According to information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected over the northern, northeastern, and adjoining parts of the country in the next 72 hours. As a result, the water level in the northeastern region of the country may fall slowly over the next 72 hours.
