Sylhet rivers flow in spate
The twin rivers in Sylhet, the Surma and the Kushiyara, were flowing 38cm and 110cm above their respective danger levels (DLs) yesterday, reports said.
Sources at the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said both the rivers went into spate following heavy rains at their sourcethe Barak forming in Manipur in north-east India to become the Surma, and the Kushiyara that washes Sylhet and Sunamganj in Bangladesh. Their flows have been reinforced by the rush of waters cascading down the hills from Assam and Meghalaya in India since Thursday following heavy rains there, they added.
While the Surma was flowing 38cm above its DL at Kanaighat in Sylhet yesterday afternoon, the Kushiyara was flowing 110cm above its DL at Amalshid and 60cm at Sheola in Sylhet, rising overnight by 92cm and 75cm respectively, the sources said.
But the flash floods did not last long, as the rivers passed down to Sunamganj, swelling its vast tracts of haors (wetlands) on the Meghna where the rivers merge.
Meanwhile, the Met Office said the rains were caused by an active monsoon and the trough of a low pressure over northern Bay, where deep convection has been taking place since Tuesday.
It turned the sea rolling with squally winds blowing over the Bay, prompting the authorities to raise the local cautionary warning signal to No. 3 at the maritime ports of Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Mongla and Paira.
The Met Office, however, added that the spell of squally winds over the sea and the coastal areas may be over and the rains may slow down in two to three days.
The signals may also be lifted by that time, they said.
