4 lakh marooned in flash floods in Sylhet div

Over four hundred thousand people have become marooned in wide swathes of water in several upazilas of Sylhet and Maulvibazar after the region’s main rivers, the Surma and the Kushiyara, triggered flash floods for the past few days, fed as they were by heavy rains. This was coupled with the onrush of water down the surrounding hillslopes.

The Surma and its twin river Kushiyara, carrying the flows of the Barak in the north-east Indian state of Manipur, swollen as it was by heavy rains in the Barak valley, continue to flow above their respective danger levels. Hence, there are fears of further deterioration in the flood-affected areas in six upazilas of Sylhet and two of Maulvibazar.

Already the plight of thousands trapped by floodwaters in different parts of Sylhet and Maulvibazar have forced many to take refuge in temporary flood shelters, as water spilled over their homesteads and crop lands, reports said.

The situation was getting bad, down from Zakiganj to Beanibazar and Fenchuganj in Sylhet and three upazilas in Maulvibazar of Kulaura, Juri and Baro Lekha, where the Juri—swollen by the onrush of water down the hills—was unable to carry its waters to the Hakaluki Haor. The haor is full to its brim, fed by excess water spilling from the Kushiyara.

People who had to take shelter in temporary flood shelters complained of inadequate relief, The Independent correspondent reported, quoting local public representatives.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board (WDB) said yesterday that the Surma was flowing 59cm and the Kushiyara 83cm above their respective danger levels in Sylhet. These may rise further in the next 24 hours.

Again, Met Office sources said, “Rains down from moderate to heavy along with normal rainy season showers may shoot up further across the country as the monsoon has become active.”

The sources said, “The rains may continue across the country in the coming days.” The official forecasts noted the showers may vary between heavy to very heavy at places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 villagers of three upazilas of Lalmonirhat district were marooned by the waters of the sudden flash floods of the Teesta and Saniajan river basins in the last 48 hours, as the water level of the Teesta suddenly rose and crossed its danger mark in Dalia point.

Sources in the Teesta barrage irrigation project said incessant rainfall and the onrush of water from the hill and upstream across the border caused the sudden flash floods in the area. The Teesta is now flowing 8cm above its danger mark at Dalia point on Sunday noon; it was recorded at 52.48cm. The Indian authorities of the Gajoldoba barrage opened all the gates and the water entered Bangladesh, causing flash floods in some areas of Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari upazilas of the district. In the face of extreme pressure of water in the barrage areas, the Teesta barrage authority also opened all the gates of the barrage. As a result, some 5,000 villagers of low-lying areas of three upazilas were affected.

The affected villages are Saniajan, Singimari, Sindurna, Patikapara, Dawyabari and Goddimari unions under Hatibandha and Gobordhon, Dhakhin Balapara, Kutirpar areas of Aditmari and some areas of Kaligonj upazila.

The upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hatibandha upazila, Soyed Enamul Kabir, said the situation was improving and water was moving away from the affected areas.

The executive engineer of the Teesta barrage project said the onrush water from upstream cause the sudden flash floods in the low-lying areas. “We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock,” he added.

UNB adds: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the Awami League-led government is standing beside the flood-affected people.

“There is no scope to prevent floods created by nature but the Sheikh Hasina-led government stands beside you,” he said, while addressing a gathering of flood-affected people at Shikpur Bazar in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet, after visiting several flood-hit areas of Amura and Budhbaribazar in the upazila.

 While visiting the areas that fall under his constituency (Sylhet-6), Nahid asked the local administration to distribute relief among the flood-affected families, he said, adding that the government will provide special allotments to the farmers who will lose crops fields, farms or houses due to the floods.

Sylhet district Awami League general secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Golapganj Municipal mayor Sirajul Jabbar Chowdhury, district Swechchasebok League Joint Secretary Emdad Rahman, among others, were present during the visit.

4 lakh marooned in flash floods in Sylhet div

Over four hundred thousand people have become marooned in wide swathes of water in several upazilas of Sylhet and Maulvibazar after the regions main rivers, the Surma and the Kushiyara, triggered flash floods for the past few days, fed as they were by heavy rains. This was coupled with the onrush of water down the surrounding hillslopes. The Surma and its twin river Kushiyara, carrying the flows of the Barak in the north-east Indian state of Manipur, swollen as it was by heavy rains in the Barak valley, continue to flow above their respective danger levels. Hence, there are fears of further deterioration in the flood-affected areas in six upazilas of Sylhet and two of Maulvibazar. Already the plight of thousands trapped by floodwaters in different parts of Sylhet and Maulvibazar have forced many to take refuge in temporary flood shelters, as water spilled over their homesteads and crop lands, reports said. The situation was getting bad, down from Zakiganj to Beanibazar and Fenchuganj in Sylhet and three upazilas in Maulvibazar of Kulaura, Juri and Baro Lekha, where the Juriswollen by the onrush of water down the hillswas unable to carry its waters to the Hakaluki Haor. The haor is full to its brim, fed by excess water spilling from the Kushiyara. People who had to take shelter in temporary flood shelters complained of inadequate relief, The Independent correspondent reported, quoting local public representatives. Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board (WDB) said yesterday that the Surma was flowing 59cm and the Kushiyara 83cm above their respective danger levels in Sylhet. These may rise further in the next 24 hours. Again, Met Office sources said, Rains down from moderate to heavy along with normal rainy season showers may shoot up further across the country as the monsoon has become active. The sources said, The rains may continue across the country in the coming days. The official forecasts noted the showers may vary between heavy to very heavy at places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions. Meanwhile, some 5,000 villagers of three upazilas of Lalmonirhat district were marooned by the waters of the sudden flash floods of the Teesta and Saniajan river basins in the last 48 hours, as the water level of the Teesta suddenly rose and crossed its danger mark in Dalia point. Sources in the Teesta barrage irrigation project said incessant rainfall and the onrush of water from the hill and upstream across the border caused the sudden flash floods in the area. The Teesta is now flowing 8cm above its danger mark at Dalia point on Sunday noon; it was recorded at 52.48cm. The Indian authorities of the Gajoldoba barrage opened all the gates and the water entered Bangladesh, causing flash floods in some areas of Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari upazilas of the district. In the face of extreme pressure of water in the barrage areas, the Teesta barrage authority also opened all the gates of the barrage. As a result, some 5,000 villagers of low-lying areas of three upazilas were affected. The affected villages are Saniajan, Singimari, Sindurna, Patikapara, Dawyabari and Goddimari unions under Hatibandha and Gobordhon, Dhakhin Balapara, Kutirpar areas of Aditmari and some areas of Kaligonj upazila. The upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hatibandha upazila, Soyed Enamul Kabir, said the situation was improving and water was moving away from the affected areas. The executive engineer of the Teesta barrage project said the onrush water from upstream cause the sudden flash floods in the low-lying areas. We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock, he added. UNB adds: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the Awami League-led government is standing beside the flood-affected people. There is no scope to prevent floods created by nature but the Sheikh Hasina-led government stands beside you, he said, while addressing a gathering of flood-affected people at Shikpur Bazar in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet, after visiting several flood-hit areas of Amura and Budhbaribazar in the upazila. While visiting the areas that fall under his constituency (Sylhet-6), Nahid asked the local administration to distribute relief among the flood-affected families, he said, adding that the government will provide special allotments to the farmers who will lose crops fields, farms or houses due to the floods. Sylhet district Awami League general secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Golapganj Municipal mayor Sirajul Jabbar Chowdhury, district Swechchasebok League Joint Secretary Emdad Rahman, among others, were present during the visit.